Covid: Menarini, new made in Italy reagent to isolate viral RNA

Rome, April 16 (beraking latest news Salute) – An innovative and totally made in Italy reagent, to isolate the viral RNA of Sars-CoV-2 after the molecular swab. It is ‘Leasy Kit’, launched by Menarini Diagnostics, a company of the Menarini Group. The benefits of the Leasy kit are “a significant saving of time, labor and resources while maintaining a high level of performance”, explains a note.

“While traditional methods provide for the extraction and purification of viral RNA from the sample taken from the patient, with longer times and greater costs – we read – the Menarini research and development teams have developed an innovative method. With Leasy Kit, the outer membrane of the virus that encloses the RNA is dissolved rapidly, releasing the RNA in solution with great speed, making it available for amplification with Covid-19 molecular tests “.

“To simplify – clarifies Menarini – let’s imagine that RNA is a ball inside a bottle with a narrow neck: with the traditional method it must be extracted, while with this new technique the bottle is simply broken”. The new reagent, born from the research of Menarini Silicon Biosystems in Bologna, is already in production in the specially designed laboratories in Pisa.

“Our research and development and manufacturing teams – explained Fabio Piazzalunga, general manager of Menarini Diagnostics and president of Menarini Silicon Biosystems – have worked with determination in recent months to bring to laboratories an innovative solution capable of minimizing time and costs of molecular routines, while ensuring accurate results and ample flexibility. This is the first Menarini product in molecular diagnostics entirely developed and produced in Italy. Thanks to the important investments made, we are able to offer innovative solutions that allow to speed up times and reduce costs “.

The Leasy, being a kit that can be used in combination with various amplification tests, is referred to as Research Use Only – it is highlighted in the note – and requires a simple laboratory validation to be used as part of its routines.