The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a safety communication that identifies Applied DNA Sciences’ Linea COVID-19 Assay Kit as one of only two tests marketed under its emergency use authorisation (EUA) to detect certain SARS-CoV-2 mutations.

The mutations include the one found in the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 called B.1.1.7. It can potentially increase the transmission risk of the virus that causes Covid-19.

The detection of specific mutations can help in identifying samples that should be further characterised through genetic sequencing and can help to detect the new variants in patients early.