Audience
Healthcare providers assessing patients for COVID-19 infection and other Dynacare clients in Ontario.
Overview
In late 2020, novel variants of SARS-CoV-2 (‘COVID-19 virus’) were detected in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil. These variants of concern (VOC), designated as UK Variant or ‘Variant of Concern 202012/01’ (VOC-202012/01, or lineage B.1.1.7), South African Variant (Variant 501Y.V2, or lineage B.1.351), and Brazilian Variant (P.1 lineage) are more transmissible than wild-type SARS-CoV-2 virus due to novel adaptive mutations in the viral genome. The purpose of this Partner Update is to address the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, their potential impact to COVID-19 diagnostic molecular tests offered by Dynacare, and to outline the testing strategy for variants at Dynacare.
Partner Update -
SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern Screening and Impact on COVID-19 Diagnostic Molecular Testing Performance