Vela Diagnostics collaboration with U.S.-based Mayo Clinic results in a new version of the Sentosa® SQ HCV Genotyping Assay* with improved reporting and data-interpretation features

Singapore and Rochester, Minn. October 30, 2018 — Vela Diagnostics has been collaborating with U.S.-based Mayo Clinic for research, development and subsequent validation of the novel Sentosa® SQ HCV Genotyping Assay.

The two organizations teamed up to research and validate a detection test for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotyping and resistance-associated substitutions (RAS) — the Sentosa® SQ HCV Genotyping Assay. Mayo Clinic’s global reference laboratory, Mayo Medical Laboratories, used a next-generation sequencing (NGS) method to detect HCV genotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, and subtypes 1a and 1b, and to report HCV variants in clinically relevant regions of NS3, NS5A and NS5B genes to allow drug-resistance assessment. This novel assay offers an integrated solution from sample to result in approximately two days with hands-on time of less than 2.5 hours.

This research collaboration started in 2016, and in two years, the organizations established a new version of the Sentosa® SQ HCV Genotyping Assay with improved reporting and data-interpretation features.

“We are appreciative of the research support from Mayo Clinic, and I am pleased with the outcome from the collaborative efforts,” says Michael Tillmann, CEO of Vela Diagnostics. “We hope to further facilitate joint research activities.”

The World Health Organization estimates that 71 million people had chronic HCV infections in 2015. If left untreated, HCV can cause serious, lifelong illness or death due to liver cirrhosis. Levels of HCV co-infection with HIV and tuberculosis (TB) are high, which means failure to address HCV will affect efforts to control both TB and HIV. The global health sector aims to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, as noted in the WHO Global Hepatitis Report, 2017.

For more information, please visit www.veladx.com.

About Vela Diagnostics

Vela Diagnostics is the only provider of an automated IVD Next–Generation Sequencing (NGS) workflow in the market.  Vela’s Real-Time PCR and NGS applications are available on one integrated Sentosa® platform; this provides a unique ability for the customers to leverage one system for two workflows, while carrying out tests for various targets in order to answer current clinical and research questions, as well as drive laboratory operations efficiency. 

More information can be found on Vela’s website at www.veladx.com.

*RUO: For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. US only.