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BRASILIA – A National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) warned this Friday the 1st that certain tests could not detect a variant of the new coronavirus. It was first found in the United Kingdom and is already present in Brazil, according to two cases reported in São Paulo.
Anvisa reported, through a technical note, that some types of tests may not identify this new strain, but that most of the current tests in the country use methods with multiple targets, capable of identifying the mutation, which would reduce the impact on the diagnosis. .
More contagious, the mutation of the COVID-19 it has spread rapidly and become dominant in England. The variant has been named SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01 (variant under investigation year 2020, month 12, variant 01) or strain B.1.1.7.
According to sequencing carried out in the United Kingdom, the new strain has 14 mutations, one related to the S gene of the virus. According to Anvisa, the new strain may not be detected by tests that exclusively use the S gene as a target or by tests developed using that same gene as a reference.
“The variant VUI 202012/01 identified in different countries has a mutation that affects the S gene, used as a target in different diagnostic tests, which can lead to the impossibility of detecting the virus if it is the only target or reference of the diagnostic model” warns the agency.
In the note, Anvisa technicians point out that there are several safe and effective products in the country to diagnose the variant strain. The agency recommended that laboratories adopt measures that favor the diagnosis, “such as the use of products directed at different viral targets.”
“Most of the standardized PCR molecular assays in Brazil use more than one target, which would reduce the impact on diagnosis. Laboratories must be attentive to the information in the instructions for use of commercial products and those who use their own methodology must also be aware of this potential problem, ”warned Anvisa.
According to the Anvisa note, preliminary studies have already indicated that the variant of the virus is more transmissible than the previous ones, but there is still not enough information to determine if it is capable of causing more serious conditions of covid-19, changes in the antibody response. and vaccine efficacy.
Anvisa noted that genetic mutations in viruses are common and generally do not cause significant changes or impact their spread. “Complex laboratory investigations are needed to understand the implications,” the agency said.
Anvisa also released an updated table of the vaccines under analysis in the country. None of the four (AstraZeneca / Fiocruz, Sinovac / Butantan, Pfizer and Janssen) had an emergency use or registration request sent to the agency.
According to Anvisa, the Russian origin Sputnik V vaccine is not included in the table because the study consent request is still under analysis. “We have not yet considered it as a trial vaccine in Brazil. As soon as the agency completes the analysis of the study request, it can be included and everyone will be able to monitor the progress,” said the agency’s communications officer.
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