Bertin Technologies, C4Diagnostics, and Enalees launch BEC-SARS-CoV-2, an ultra-rapid and sensitive Covid-19 test kit

The three partners consolidated their expertise on developing a highly-sensitive test capable of detecting SARS-CoV-2 on site, in less than 15 minutes. The environmental test kit is now available, while the human diagnostic kit is in its final validation phase and scheduled for release in the upcoming weeks.

Bertin Technologies, a subsidiary of CNIM, C4Diagnostics, a biotechnology company specialising in innovative in vitro testing for infectious diseases, and Enalees, a leader in molecular point-of-care diagnosis of infectious diseases in animals, have entered into a partnership to develop rapid field tests for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in less than 15 minutes.

This project is based on the expertise and capacities of the three partners, each an expert in developing, validating, manufacturing, and marketing molecular tests:

• Enalees provides its efficient extraction technology combined with a rapid molecular assay format that have been developed and validated with documented success in veterinary applications,
• C4Diagnostics brings its scientific, regulatory, and commercial expertise in the area of infectious respiratory diseases,
• Bertin Technologies provides the overall test management, its engineering skills, and ensures that the product meets the prerequisites of the EC IVD directive.

In the first stage, the three partners developed a version with the aim of detecting the presence of the virus in the environment, whether outdoor or indoor (public space, public transport, etc.). The procedure is simple: a sample is taken using either a swab (for surface testing) or a biological air sampler, which collects the biological particles present in the air and concentrates them into a liquid, making it possible to detect and identify them. The samples are then analysed using a portable reading device and the presence of the virus is confirmed or excluded within 15 minutes.

The first shipment is already scheduled for the Naval Firefighters in Marseille, who have been working in partnership with C4Diagnostics in their fight against COVID-19 since the beginning of the crisis.

In parallel, the three partners are also working on the development of a human test kit. This was submitted to the French National Reference Centre for Respiratory Viruses for validation, and their response is expected within the next few weeks.