COVID-19

Epidemiology and Background

First cases of pneumonia of unknown cause were reported in China, December 2019.

In February 2020, the WHO announced a name for the disease: COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019).

It was declared as a pandemic by WHO on 11 March 2020. The pandemic has been responsible for an economic and social shutdown in many countries around the globe.

^{Source: WHO website, accessed 04 September 2020 https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019}

Responsible Virus

SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2)

Symptoms

Most infected people will develop mild to moderate symptoms
(e.g. fever, dry cough) while other cases become severe (pneumonia) or critical (acute respiratory distress syndrome) and may be fatal.

Omega’s Contribution to Fight the Pandemic

Omega will meet the demand for both at-home and laboratory-based tests.

COVID-19 Rapid Test

Part of the UK Rapid Test Consortium ("UK-RTC") to jointly develop and manufacture a COVID-19 point-of-care antibody test as part of the UK Government's five pillar national testing strategy for COVID-19.

We are delighted to be part of this consortium and to support the Scottish and UK Governments' efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic and look forward to using Omega's manufacturing knowledge and capabilities in supporting and furthering this objective.
Colin King, CEO of Omega

COVID-19 IgG ELISA

Partnership to provide manufacturing capability for Mologic's COVID-19 ELISA diagnostics test (the development of which has been funded in part by the UK Government). The antibody test will be capable of playing a key part towards identifying people that may have built up immunity to the coronavirus. This antibody test will be used on patient samples sent by hospitals or GPs for laboratory testing.

We are pleased that Omega has been able to CE-mark Mologic's ELISA antibody test. This is another example of the UK diagnostics industry working in collaboration to bring effective solutions in the fight against this global pandemic.
Colin King, CEO of Omega

Relevance of Antibody Testing

Antibodies are part of the adaptive immunity and are produced in response to viral infection. Their role is to block viral entry and neutralise the virus.

Antibodies are an indicator of a recent or prior SARS-COV-2 infection and adaptive immunity.

The length of time SARS-CoV-2 antibodies remain in the body post infection is currently unknown and also if their presence is equivalent to protective immunity.

Model of antibody response after SARS-CoV-2 infection

The Symptomatic phase is representative for mild to moderate infections.

Nasal/throat swab collection for measurement of viral load – RT-PCR Blood collection for measurement of antibodies

COVID-19 IgG ELISA Test

VISITECT^® COVID-19 IgM/IgA/IgG

The graph of the antibody response has been adapted from:

1. Matricardi PM et al. The first, holistic immunological model of COVID-19: Implications for prevention, diagnosis, and public health measures. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2020. doi:10.1111/pai.13271.

2. Azkur AK et al. Immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and mechanisms of immunopathological changes in COVID-19 [published online ahead of print, 2020 May 12]. Allergy. 2020. doi:10.1111/all.14364.