A New Molecular Test for Monkeypox

Becton Dickinson and Company is continuing the trend of branching out into new territory. Now, the Franklin Lakes, NJ-based company is targeting Monkeypox through a new collaboration with CerTest BioTec.

The two will develop a molecular diagnostic test for the Monkeypox virus.  As part of the collaboration, the assay will use the BD MAX open system reagent suite to validate the CerTest Viasure Monkeypox CE/IVD molecular test on the BD MAX System. The assay will be available for BD MAX users and may help advance understanding of the global spread of the disease.

The BD MAX System is an automated platform that performs nucleic acid extraction and real-time PCR providing results for up to 24 samples across multiple syndromes in less than three hours.

"Enabling labs to rapidly respond to unexpected challenges is the kind of evolving health care situations for which the BD MAX open system reagent suite is designed," said Nikos Pavlidis, vice president of Molecular Diagnostics at BD. "Through our collaboration with CerTest and their ability to rapidly transfer assays on the BD MAX System, we will enable BD MAX System users around the world to access a test for the confirmation of monkeypox."

The collaboration comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an Alert -- Level 2" advisory for travelers to "practice enhanced precautions,” according to a report from CNN. CDC said Monkeypox cases have been reported in Europe, North America, South America, North Africa, the Middle East, and Australia.

The collaboration also comes at a time when BD is branching out into new markets. Earlier this week, the company announced it would acquire Parata Systems for $1.5 billion, to help it get into the Pharmacy Automation market.

BD said the market presented a $600 million opportunity and it is expected to grow about 10% annually to $1.5 billion in the U.S. alone over 10 years.