LabCollector LIMS developed by AgileBio is ready to join hands with the testing labs to increase the rapidity and efficiency of COVID-19 tests and its management thereby helping to eradicate the COVID-19 global pandemic.

To address that effort, AgileBio is offering a COVID LIMS pack with  its main software LabCollector + LSM (Lab Service Management) + I-Collector automation + 2D rack scanner connectivity to any COVID-19 testing facility with free hosting for one year.

“The WHO recommendation is for massive Covid-19 tests everywhere and every day. The world is pressing tests and samples arrive by increasing batches. With LabCollector we help labs get organized and track samples and work. It was natural for us to propose our experience and tools quickly and without the burden of costs.”- Pierre Rodrigues, CEO & Founder of AgileBio, says.

The LabCollector COVID-19 pack is a mix of software components and all the needed service to bring labs online quickly. It also includes free online hosting for one year for LabCollector. Labs can now manage the COVID-19 samples from reception to result reporting, inventory for reagents & supplies, biobanking of COVID-19 samples with 2D Rack Scanners and much more with COVID-19 LC + LSM pack. This will increase the efficiency of labs by managing the tests request and speed with automation. A remote LSM portal application which is included in the pack will help the labs connect with unlimited number of doctors or providers of COVID-19 samples. It will also assist in communication of test updates, reports and invoices between the labs and the doctors/providers. All in all, the AgileBio offers all needed parts for test management to the labs and free consulting and quick setup and 1-year free web hosting (compliant with FDA) at an extremely reduced cost.

LabCollector by AgileBio also offers an extensive and modular tool set. It easily connects to 2D rack scanners to catalog samples from any scanner on the market. To automate test execution, AgileBio proposes a middleware I-Collector which allows quick integration of PCR/qPCR machines to help get the results transferred to LabCollector LIMS (into the Lab Service Management add-on) and ultimately to automatic positive/negative assessment and reporting.

Furthermore, AgileBio teams is also familiar with regulatory requirements a test lab needs and keeping this in mind we have included our compliancy pack in the COVID LC + LSM Pack. AgileBio team shall provide testing labs with first hand training and technical support to make implementation of LabCollector smooth and easy in your lab. Our trusted advisors and software integration experts will make your transition to LabCollector effortless.

About AgileBio

AgileBio, founded in 2002, is a leader in providing collaborative tools that enhance research productivity and traceability to scientist teams in industry and academia.  AgileBio’s mission is to develop flexible and innovative software, such as our main product, LabCollector, and thus, turn research teams into more agile structures. LabCollector is a unique Intranet based software, allowing centralized management of all your lab data. By using LabCollector, lab teams can benefit from efficient information sharing and access.  AgileBio also builds and implements customized and packaged IT solutions that meet the demand of highly competitive companies and labs. Our clients turn to us time and time again because they trust us to get things right from the start.

Co-Diagnostics, Inc. , a molecular diagnostics company with a unique, patented platform for the development of diagnostic tests, announced that its Logix Smart™ Coronavirus COVID-19 Test has obtained Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the FDA to be used for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. The Company’s test can be used by clinical laboratories certified under Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) to detect the presence of the virus that causes COVID-19, and is available for purchase from the Company’s Utah-based ISO-13485:2016 certified facility.

Co-Diagnostics began offering its COVID-19 test to some U.S. CLIA labs in March 2020 as a result of the FDA’s policy for diagnostic tests for COVID-19 during the current public health emergency. Previously, the Company had initiated sales of its CE-IVD test to the European Community, and to other global markets that accept a CE marking as valid regulatory approval following routine local product registration.

CEO of Co-Diagnostics Dwight Egan commented, “We believe that this authorization confirms the quality and performance of our COVID-19 test, and that it is a significant step in opening more doors and helping this test to reach an even wider audience. Many experts agree that accessibility of widespread testing is an important element to ‘flattening the curve’ as U.S. cases of COVID-19 continue to rise, and that increased testing throughput is vital to achieve this objective. We look forward to continuing our goal of increasing the availability of advanced, high-throughput, and cost-effective COVID-19 testing solutions both close to home and across the globe.”

The Co-Diagnostics Logix Smart™ Coronavirus COVID-19 Test uses the Company’s patented CoPrimer™ technology to target the RdRp gene of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The advanced nature of CoPrimers has allowed Co-Diagnostics to design a highly-specific, single-well PCR test, allowing higher throughput over tests that require multiple wells. Co-Diagnostics believes the lower cost of reagents in the Company’s single-well test will help hospitals and laboratories to process more while paying less, benefiting healthcare providers and patients alike.

About Co-Diagnostics, Inc.:

Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a Utah corporation, is a molecular diagnostics company that develops, manufactures and markets a new, state-of-the-art diagnostics technology. The Company’s technology is utilized for tests that are designed using the detection and/or analysis of nucleic acid molecules (DNA or RNA). The Company also uses its proprietary technology to design specific tests to locate genetic markers for use in industries other than infectious disease and license the use of those tests to specific customers.

Synergy Laboratories (Synergy) adds its significant medical testing expertise to the fight against the coronavirus and COVID-19. Synergy began offering coronavirus testing to healthcare facilities on Wednesday April 1, 2020. Synergy is the first medical laboratory in South Alabama to offer these tests.

“Fast, accurate testing is one of the keys to combatting the spread of the coronavirus. Our new testing capability has been approved by the U. S. FDA and will dramatically expand the information available to public health officials, hospitals and physicians, helping save lives and allowing the healthcare system to better deal with this crisis.” said Brad Pitts, Synergy’s Chief Executive Officer.

Brandon Biles, Synergy’s Chief Operating Officer, highlighted the speed of the new testing process. He said, “We will be able to deliver results in within one-to-two days utilizing the latest test equipment and our cutting-edge information services technology. This will help patients learn their status quickly, and allow individuals who test positive for COVID-19 to begin receiving treatment sooner.”

Synergy will be processing testing samples delivered to the lab from healthcare facilities and physicians’ offices only. Existing Synergy clients may order test kits through their normal online channels. Prospective customers can contact Synergy by phone at (251) 662-9760 or establish a new client relationship through Synergy’s New Client link at www.synergytesting.com.

The new testing capability will utilize a ThermoFisher 7500 Fast Dx system, which is one of three systems recently given fast-track approval by the FDA under an emergency use authorization. Synergy is preparing the required test kits in its facilities in Mobile, Alabama, and will be distributing them to healthcare facilities and physicians.

About Synergy Laboratories

Synergy Laboratories is a full-service diagnostic laboratory that utilizes a wide range of innovative platforms to improve patient care. Founded in 2015, by Brad Pitts and Brandon Biles, Synergy’s mission is to ethically serve the healthcare sector and give healthcare providers quality service and accurate results. In recent years, Synergy has continued to invest in the latest technology to serve their ever-growing client base.

Zegami, the Oxford University data visualisation spin-out, has developed a new machine learning model using x-rays of Covid-19 infected lungs, artificial intelligence techniques and data visualisation tools that could help medical professionals identify Coronavirus cases more effectively, but also potentially help provide a better idea of potential outcomes for patients, and even lead to more effective treatments.

However, to reach its full potential, Zegami needs a huge supply of Covid-19 x-rays and details on treatments used for patients and the outcomes, so it has written an open letter to The Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, and the NHS as a whole, asking for these images and data, and offering its services in the fight against Coronavirus.

It believes it would only take a matter of weeks to have enough images of Covid-19 x-rays for its new platform to become usable as a diagnostic tool.

Zegami says its new model could not only help identify and differentiate Covid-19 cases more easily from other lung conditions such as  ‘bacterial pneumonia’ and ‘viral pneumonia’, it could also help predict potential outcomes for patients by comparing their Covid-19 lung x-rays with other previous patients who had similar conditions, and what eventually happened to them based on different treatment options.

In developing its new platform, Zegami has initially used images of COVID-19 x-rays from the GitHub data initiative, which was launched by Joseph Paul Cohen, a Postdoctoral Fellow from Mila, University of Montreal.  He is looking to develop the world’s largest collection of X-ray and CT images of Covid-19 infected lungs, to enable automated diagnosis faster and more accurately. 

To date, because the images used by Zegami give no details on what happened to the patients, its model can only help distinguish Covid-19 cases more easily from other lung conditions.  

Roger Noble, CEO and founder of Zegami said: “Covid-19 is a huge challenge, and technology should play a key role in defeating it. We believe the model we have developed cannot only be used to help identify cases of Coronavirus more quickly, with the right visuals and information loaded on to our platform and using data visualisation and AI tools, we can help identify potential outcomes for patients by comparing their cases with former patients who had similar conditions and learning what happened to them.

“However, to complete our project we need more data and visuals of Covid-19 x-rays and the treatments used for these case and their eventual outcomes, so we have written to the NHS asking if they would like to work with us on this project, and to see if they can provide the visuals and data we need.

“The model we develop could not only help our amazing NHS staff to make more informed decisions and potentially save lives, it could be shared around the world and play a role in helping to defeat Covid-19 on a global scale.”

Zegami launched out of Oxford University in 2016.  It is currently exploring new ideas and making new discoveries for 35 clients and counting, across an ever-growing variety of sectors.  

BioIVT, a leading provider of research models and services for drug and diagnostic development, announced the opening of its new blood donor center on the Tufts University campus in Medford, MA to support academic and pharmaceutical researchers involved in COVID-19, cell and gene therapy research.

“BioIVT wants to play a leading role in supporting COVID-19 research efforts and blood donations are a vital resource for the research and development of new therapies, vaccines, and diagnostics. We have many years’ experience developing blood products, including blood-derived immune cells for cell and gene therapy research, and we want to make that expertise count,” said BioIVT CEO Jeff Gatz. “Researchers recognize and appreciate BioIVT’s rapid response and commitment to high quality, fresh blood products and this new donor center will allow us to offer those attributes and services to additional US clients.”

BioIVT’s new Boston blood donor center is its seventh. The company has similar facilities located in California, Tennessee and Pennsylvania to serve US clients and in London, UK for EU-based clients.

“While the initial focus at our Boston donor center will be on delivering fresh blood, leukopaks and buffy coats within hours of collection, we plan to add more capabilities and donors over time,” said Jeff Widdoss, Vice President of Donor Center Operations at BioIVT.

Leukopaks, which contain concentrated white blood cells, are used to help identify promising new drug candidates, assess toxicity levels, and conduct stem cell and gene therapy research. They are particularly useful for researchers who need to obtain large numbers of leukocytes from a single donor.

BioIVT blood products can be supplied with specific clinical data, such as the donor age, ethnicity, gender, BMI and smoking status. Its leukopaks are also human leukocyte antigen (HLA), FC receptor and cytomegalovirus typed. HLA typing is used to match patients and donors for bone marrow or cord blood transplants. FC receptors play an important role in antibody-dependent immune responses.

About BioIVT

BioIVT, formerly BioreclamationIVT, is a leading global provider of research models and value-added research services for drug discovery and development. We specialize in control and disease-state biospecimens including human and animal tissues, cell products, blood, and other biofluids. Our unmatched portfolio of clinical specimens directly supports precision medicine research and the effort to improve patient outcomes by coupling comprehensive clinical data with donor samples. Our PHASEZERO® Research Services team works collaboratively with clients to provide target and biomarker validation, phenotypic assays to characterize novel therapeutics, clinical assay development and in vitro hepatic modeling solutions. And as the premier supplier of ADME-toxicology model systems, including hepatocytes and subcellular fractions, BioIVT enables scientists to better understand the pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism of newly-discovered compounds and their effects on disease processes. By combining our technical expertise, exceptional customer service, and unparalleled access to biological specimens, BioIVT serves the research community as a trusted partner in elevating science.