altona Diagnostics launches additional PCR kit which detects monkeypox virus

Hamburg, Germany, June 08, 2022

altona Diagnostics GmbH announced the launch of the RealStar® Zoonotic Orthopoxvirus PCR Kit 1.0*, a real-time RT-PCR based reagent system for the detection of zoonotic (non-variola) Orthopoxvirus species specific DNA – including monkeypox virus DNA of the Central and West African strains.

Cases of monkeypox have been confirmed inside and outside the EU since mid-May. More than 1000** confirmed cases have now been reported worldwide from countries where the monkeypox virus is not endemic. New cases continue to appear.

“The situation that monkeypox virus infections occur in countries where the virus is not endemic, and the persons concerned have not previously traveled to West or Central Africa is new to us. Therefore, reliable detection of this virus is essential. With the new RealStar^® Zoonotic Orthopoxvirus PCR Kit 1.0* we are ready to supply health facilities and laboratories with a sufficient number of kits if needed”, said Dr. Sönke Friedrichsen Head of Research & Development.

All RealStar^® PCR kits consist of Master Reagents, Positive Controls and an Internal Control. They are manufactured according to GMP guidelines and can be used with a wide range of different real-time PCR instruments.

altona Diagnostics has already developed molecular diagnostic test systems during previous global health crises and made them available very quickly. During the outbreaks of swine flu (H1N1)pdm09, MERS-CoV, Zaire ebolavirus, Zika virus and SARS-CoV-2 altona Diagnostics’ PCR tests have always been among the earliest available and most widely used in the world.

About altona

altona Diagnostics is a medical diagnostic company that develops and manufactures in vitro diagnostic tests for the PCR based detection of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria or parasites. Headquartered in Hamburg-Altona, Germany, altona Diagnostics is privately owned and employs more than 350 people worldwide. The company has been in the molecular diagnostics business for over 20 years and is ISO 13485 certified. altona Diagnostics sells its registered products to private and clinical laboratories globally through subsidiaries and more than 40 distribution partners.

Molecular diagnostic tests from altona Diagnostics are based on real-time PCR technology and are packaged as ready-to-use kits. The company’s product catalog contains over 50 CE marked kits that are compatible with open real-time PCR platforms. In addition, altona Diagnostics offers an automated workflow solution that is complete with instrumentation, nucleic acid extraction chemistry and a dedicated software.

altona^®, RealStar^® and all associated marks are trademarks of altona Diagnostics GmbH. All other registered names and trademarks used in this document are not to be considered unprotected by law.

*For Research Use Only!

**Data as of June 07, 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/response/2022/world-map.html