Sentinel Diagnostics Develops Ready-To-Use Real-Time PCR Mix for Detection of Novel Coronavirus

Sentinel Diagnostics (Milan, Italy) has announced that it has developed a ready-to-use Real-Time PCR mix for the detection of novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Sentinel has developed two kits in collaboration with the most important hospital lab for the detection and treatment of coronavirus in Italy.

Sentinel is focused on the development and production of in vitro diagnostics (IVD) for the most advanced clinical chemistry, immunochemistry and molecular diagnostics platforms. Besides its wide product portfolio in clinical chemistry, the FOB Gold® line is Sentinel’s complete solution for colorectal cancer screening, which includes patented sampling devices and analytical systems. In the last 12 years, the company has grown in the molecular diagnostics sector and has developed the proprietary technology STAT-NAT®, able to stabilize the activity of PCR mix, allowing room temperature transport and storage, performance improvement and long shelf life. STAT-NAT® can be customized for all NAT systems, from POC to central laboratory.


Sentinel’s STAT-NAT® COVID-19 assay is a freeze-dried ready-to-use Real-Time PCR mix for the detection of novel Coronavirus disease in human respiratory tract specimens in about 90 minutes. The company has developed two versions of this kit, which follow two international protocols for the highest sensitivity and specificity. STAT-NAT® COVID-19 HK kit is based on the Hong Kong protocol, while STAT-NAT® COVID-19 B assay follows the Berlin protocol. Both these kits are validated on the most common PCR instruments and have been tested on human respiratory tract specimens found positive.

“The R&D NAT team has developed and tested the COVID-19 assay by working side by side with one of the reference hospital labs for the detection and treatment of coronavirus in Italy” said Maurizio Gramegna, Chief Technology Officer at Sentinel Diagnostics. “Both STAT-NAT® COVID-19 HK and B are compliant with the international protocols and are able to detect the relevant genetic variants of Coronavirus COVID-19. We are always in touch with KOLs, in order to keep the assays up to date and even update them in case of any virus mutation.”

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