It’s the main question currently sparking debates in France: where are we at about screening tests? While the political class reproaches the government for the bag managing of the health crisis with an incoherent screening test strategy, French-British biotechnological group Novacyt can now delivers on a large scale a brand-new screening test kit. This Monday April 6th, 2020 the Institut Pasteur has approved the process.
An obligatory step in France for all new pharmaceutical products or products for medical use. In countries such as England or the United-States, the health authorities have already verified and confirmed the process a few days ago. It’s now available in France for Novacyt director general Graham Mills’ greatest joy who said “We look forward to supporting the French authorities in their COVID-19 testing requirements” As of today, this screening test kit is delivered in over 80 countries across the world.
But how does this test work? Like the other twenty diagnostic tests already available in France, this test consists in a nasopharyngeal swab. Which is the insertion of a deep tube in one of the patient’s nostrils (yes, it may be painful) in order to collect DNA sequences useful to detect the presence of a potential virus. Such as Covid-19 for instance. The Novacyt group is leader in the cellular diagnostic field.
