Thermo Fisher announces availability of AcroMetrix Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) RNA Control

Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, today announced the availability of the Thermo Scientific AcroMetrix Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) RNA Control, its latest quality control product to monitor and validate COVID-19 molecular diagnostic tests.

In an effort to combat the recent Coronavirus outbreak, Thermo Fisher designed and developed this control as a synthetic RNA, non-infectious control to help labs validate and monitor COVID-19 molecular diagnostic tests. Taking FDA guidelines into account, the controls were carefully designed at two different concentrations: a low positive control and an ultra-low positive control.

AcroMetrix Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) RNA Control is prepared by formulating synthetic RNA transcripts that contain highly unique N, S, E and Orf1ab regions of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) genome into a proprietary buffer. The RNA is ready for reverse transcription, PCR amplification and detection, as appropriate to the test. The kit contains two vials of SARS-CoV-2 specific RNA at the concentration that will result low positive and ultra-low positive in most commonly used Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) based Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) nucleic acid testing methods.

Our team is committed to providing innovative solutions to support our customers with better diagnostic tools. The AcroMetrix Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) RNA Control is a positive control to aid in validating and monitoring COVID-19 diagnostic tests."

Gianluca Pettiti, senior vice president and president, Thermo Fisher's specialty diagnostics business

Thermo Fisher has created an online resource to make it easier to find up-to-date information about its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including availability of its diagnostic test kits. Please refer to https://corporate.thermofisher.com/us/en/index.html for current news, information and frequently asked questions about COVID-19-related products and services that are vital to researchers, labs, healthcare workers and first responders worldwide.

The AcroMetrix Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) RNA Control is available globally as a Research Use Only (RUO) product and is not intended for clinical use.