Primerdesign is a UK-based
biotechnology
Biotechnology is the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for products and services. The term ''biotechnology'' was first used b ...
company that designs and sells products for quantitative
real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).
History
Primerdesign was founded in 2005 by Dr Jim Wicks, Dr Rob Powell and
Professor Tom Brown within the
University of Southampton
, mottoeng = The Heights Yield to Endeavour
, type = Public research university
, established = 1862 – Hartley Institution1902 – Hartley University College1913 – Southampton University Coll ...
to focus on PCR and
DNA chemistry. The company has grown since then and its products have been used in over 100 countries. The company has a portfolio of over 400 qPCR detection kits and over 9000 research targets.
Swine flu detection kit
During the
swine flu pandemic in 2009, Primerdesign developed the world's first swine flu detection kit.
The kit, which was designed within a fortnight, was designed to give results within two hours.
[Powell, Rob. (31 August 2009]
Test Of Skill As UK Firm Wins Swine Flu Race
News.sky.com. The first shipment of rapid result tests was dispatched to Mexico in April 2009 and is now being used in more than 30 countries.
Horse meat scandal
The company responded to the
2013 meat adulteration scandal
The 2013 horse meat scandal was a food industry scandal in parts of Europe in which foods advertised as containing spicy beef were found to contain undeclared or improperly declared horse meat – as much as 100% of the meat content in some ca ...
by being able to provide
qPCR
A real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR, or qPCR) is a laboratory technique of molecular biology based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). It monitors the amplification of a targeted DNA molecule during the PCR (i.e., in real ...
kits to quantitatively measure for horse meat in food.
Their kits were used throughout Ireland as well as the UK.
Coronavirus
In January 2020 the company launched a molecular test for
SARS-CoV-2
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) is a strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), the respiratory illness responsible for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The virus previously had a ...
. The test was approved as eligible for procurement under the
World Health Organization's (WHO) Emergency Use Listing process in April 2020, meaning that the test can be supplied by the
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
and other procurement agencies supporting the
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...
response. In the same month Novacyt announced a collaboration with
AstraZeneca,
GlaxoSmithKline
GSK plc, formerly GlaxoSmithKline plc, is a British multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company with global headquarters in London, England. Established in 2000 by a merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham. GSK is the ten ...
and the
University of Cambridge
, mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts.
Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge.
, established =
, other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...
to support the UK in its COVID-19 national screening programme at a new testing laboratory at the university's Anne McLaren laboratory.
Products
Among their product ranges are lines for:
* Pathogen detection kits
* House-keeping gene assays
* Genomic DNA detection kits
* Real-time PCR reagents
* geNorm reference gene selection kits
* Housekeeping gene selection kits
* Biobank Control cDNA
* High Resolution Melting analysis kits
Customers
Primerdesign's customers include academic institutions, pharmaceutical companies, independent diagnostic laboratories, hospitals, and official government health agencies.
Sponsorship program
In 2006, Primerdesign initiated a sponsorship program for PhD students and provide further assistance to the PCR component of their study.
See also
*
Real-time polymerase chain reaction
*
High Resolution Melt
High Resolution Melt (HRM) analysis is a powerful technique in molecular biology for the detection of mutations, polymorphisms and epigenetic differences in double-stranded DNA samples. It was discovered and developed by Idaho Technology and ...
*
COVID-19 testing
COVID-19 testing involves analyzing samples to assess the current or past presence of SARS-CoV-2. The two main types of tests detect either the presence of the virus or antibodies produced in response to infection. Molecular tests for viral ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
Primerdesign website
Research support companies
Biotechnology companies of the United Kingdom
Biotechnology companies established in 2005
2005 establishments in the United Kingdom
British brands