The Impact of Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants on Diagnostic Testing
Written by Anna MacDonald, published in Technology Networks
Like other viruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can mutate and evolve over time, leading to genetic variants such as B.1.1.7, first identified in the UK in December 2020. In most cases, the tiny genetic changes “end up being inconsequential,” Arvind Kothandaraman from PerkinElmer told Technology Networks. However, “there are other cases in which these mutations could lead to the virus becoming more infectious and threatening to the host,” he added.