Among four innovative Manitoba-based companies, Intrinsic Analytics is committed to creating opportunities for development and combining industrial research with modern technology to further the provincial COVID-19 response and assist in the return to normalcy. Partnered with St. Boniface Research Centre, Intrinsic Analytics seeks to combine industry and research to strengthen the pandemic response.
The funding provided by Research Manitoba is dedicated to the evaluation of a novel saliva-based test used in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 to support population-level surveillance for COVID-19 infection. Intrinsic Analytics has also committed to providing funds for this project in addition to Research Manitoba’s support. This robust saliva-based test is more efficient in terms of sample collections – as a nasopharyngeal swab does not need to be administered, and also requires fewer chemical mixtures to be used in the lab. Notably, this method still uses the gold standard for COVID-19 testing: Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), but reduces the need for additional specialized equipment for RNA extraction.
“Due to the severe shortage of reagents and consumables caused by the pandemic, Intrinsic Analytics felt called to examine other, more streamlined methods for detecting COVID-19,” says Dr. Jon-Jon Santiago, Chief Scientific Officer of Intrinsic Analytics. “We wanted to find a method to reduce the need for difficult and invasive sample collection that would be as reliable, accurate and rapid as what’s already being done, but also make the whole process more convenient and widely accessible.”
“The support from RM towards this multi-stakeholder initiative is valued and timely given the importance and need for easy to use, accurate, and reliable detection systems.” Says Dr. Bram Ramjiawan, Director of Research Innovation and Regulatory Affairs, St. Boniface Hospital Research.
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