Lucence, A*STAR Share Study Data Showing SAFER™ Sample Saliva Collection Kit for COVID-19 Inactivates Collected Virus
Molecular diagnostics company Lucence and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) today announced study results indicating that the reagent used in Lucence’s SAFER Sample saliva collection kit inactivates SARS-CoV-2 within 45 seconds of sample collection. This proprietary reagent also stabilizes viral RNA at room temperature for up to one week. Together, these properties enable accessible, non-invasive, and safe sample collection via saliva, which is critical to scaling cost-effective testing worldwide. The reagent used in Lucence’s SAFER Sample kit was invented at A*STAR’s Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005320/en/
The SAFER Sample Specimen Collection Kit (Photo: Business Wire)
The SAFER Sample Collection Kit is registered as a Class A medical device with the Health Sciences Authority of Singapore and is an easy-to-use saliva collection kit that comes with a bottle of stabilization fluid to be mixed with the sample at the point of collection, keeping viral RNA stable at room temperature for up to one week. While conventional viral transport media requires cold-chain transport to prevent sample degradation, which can drive up associated costs and limit testing geography, SAFER Sample’s proprietary media means samples can be transported to a lab without the need for chilling.
In this new study, Lucence and A*STAR demonstrated that the proprietary reagent provided with the SAFER Sample kit also achieved complete inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 virus within 45 seconds of exposure. Conventional viral transport media used for collecting nasal and nasopharyngeal swab specimens do not inactivate viral samples, creating risk of exposure to active virus during transportation from collection sites to the laboratory and higher costs associated with biohazard handling procedures. SAFER Sample kit’s viral inactivation capabilities could mean enhanced safety and reduced risk of exposure for any individual involved in the collection, transport, and testing processes. Lucence worked with the Diagnostics Development (DxD) Hub of A*STAR to evaluate the virucidal properties of the SAFER Sample reagent. Duke-NUS Medical School was also engaged to perform the virucidal work with SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Mass testing and screening of large populations is key to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, morbidity and mortality. By eliminating obstacles to sample integrity and, now, biosafety through viral inactivation, the SAFER Sample kit could expand testing geography, decrease associated costs, and increase efficiency of testing at scale compared to approaches utilizing conventional viral transport media.
Studies with clinical partners are ongoing to further evaluate the performance of the SAFER Sample kit. With the support of DxD Hub in verification and validation, quality management system (QMS), and regulatory registration, Lucence has received ISO13485:2016 certification for its QMS which controls the processes for the manufacture of the SAFER Sample Saliva Specimen Collection Kit.
About Lucence
Lucence is a precision oncology company that makes state-of-the-art, highly sensitive liquid biopsy tests for disease detection and treatment selection. Lucence is headquartered in Palo Alto and Singapore, and its services are delivered worldwide through an accredited central laboratory. Visit www.lucence.com for more information.
About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead public sector R&D agency, spearheading economic-oriented research to advance scientific discovery and develop innovative technology. Through open innovation, we collaborate with our partners in both the public and private sectors to benefit society. As a Science and Technology Organisation, A*STAR bridges the gap between academia and industry. Our research creates economic growth and jobs for Singapore, and enhances lives by contributing to societal benefits such as improving outcomes in healthcare, urban living, and sustainability. We play a key role in nurturing and developing a diversity of talent and leaders in our Agency and research entities, the wider research community and industry. A*STAR’s R&D activities span biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering, with research entities primarily located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis. For ongoing news, visit www.a-star.edu.sg. For information on the Diagnostics Development (DxD) Hub, visit https://www.a-star.edu.sg/accelerate/innovation-offerings/diagnostics-development-hub
Follow us on Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200616005320/en/
Contact information
Lucence Media Contact
Gabriel Yap
media@lucence.com
A*STAR Media Contact
Ms. Lynn Hong
hongxl@hq.a-star.edu.sg
+65 6419 6597
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Argo Infrastructure Partners Increases Ownership and Capital Commitment to TierPoint10.12.2025 00:00:00 EET | Press release
Argo Infrastructure Partners, LP (“Argo”), an established mid-market asset manager of essential infrastructure assets in North America, today announced it has acquired on behalf of its managed funds the equity interests of the majority of minority shareholders in TierPoint. The transaction reflects Argo’s continued conviction in TierPoint’s strategy and growth potential during a period of accelerating demand for TierPoint’s enterprise-class data center services. Since Argo’s initial investment in 2020, $3 billion of capital has been raised to fund growth and reduce TierPoint’s cost of capital by terming out debt facilities. The investment capital has advanced TierPoint’s market position as a data center services provider to enterprises, government organizations, hyperscalers and other consumers of state-of-the-art digital infrastructure. With these investments, Argo has supported the national expansion of TierPoint’s data center platform, and its efforts to meet and exceed customers’ r
Venture Global Announces Closing of $3,000,000,000 Senior Secured Notes by Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC9.12.2025 23:30:00 EET | Press release
Venture Global, Inc. (“Venture Global”, NYSE: VG) announced today that its subsidiary, Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC (“VGPL”) has closed an offering of $3,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes, which has been issued in two series: (i) a series of 6.125% senior secured notes due 2030 in an aggregate principal amount of $1,750,000,000 (the “2030 Notes”) and (ii) a series of 6.500% senior secured notes due 2034 in an aggregate principal amount of $1,250,000,000 (the “2034 Notes” and, together with the 2030 Notes, the “Notes”). The 2030 Notes will mature on December 15, 2030, and the 2034 Notes will mature on June 15, 2034. Venture Global had previously announced the issuance of $2,500,000,000 of senior secured notes by VGPL on April 21, 2025, and $4,000,000,000 of senior secured notes by VGPL on July 3, 2025 (collectively, the “Existing Notes”), bringing the combined aggregate amount of senior secured notes issued by VGPL to $9,500,000,000 since the project
Doha Debates Hosts “In The Room: The Negotiators Podcast” Live at Doha Forum9.12.2025 19:09:00 EET | Press release
Qatar Foundation’s Doha Debates spotlighted the practice of high-stakes negotiation with a special live episode of its award-winning podcast with Foreign Policy, The Negotiators, at Doha Forum, following the launch of the podcast series’ fifth season on December 1. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251209171106/en/ Doha Debates spotlighted the practice of high-stakes negotiation with a special live episode of its award-winning podcast with Foreign Policy, The Negotiators, at Doha Forum, following the launch of the podcast series’ fifth season on December 1. (Photo: AETOSWire) Held in collaboration with The Negotiators’ special partner for this season, the International Peace Institute (IPI), and Doha Debates’ longstanding production partner, Foreign Policy, the episode featured a compelling conversation between Prince Zeid bin Ra’ad bin Zeid Al Hussein, president and chief executive officer of the International
CoMotion GLOBAL 2025 Concludes in Riyadh with Landmark Deals and Global Mobility Breakthroughs9.12.2025 19:07:00 EET | Press release
CoMotion GLOBAL 2025 concluded today after three transformative days that brought together global decision-makers, industry leaders, city executives, innovators, and investors to chart the future of mobility in Saudi Arabia and worldwide. Hosted for the first time in the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Riyadh, the event showcased the Kingdom’s accelerating role as a global hub for next-generation transportation, sustainability leadership, and urban innovation. With more than 100 sessions spanning three days, CoMotion GLOBAL showcased forward-looking mobility strategies, multimodal transport breakthroughs, urban digital transformation, AI applications, and the dramatic rethinking of the movement of people and goods across global cities. Key moments from the events included: Launch of the MIT x Kearney report, Envisioning the Future of Mobility Powered by AI, which called for unprecedented public–private collaboration, shared data ecosystems, and integrated national strategies t
HTEC Momentum Recognized as a Clutch Global Honoree and Champion for Fall 20259.12.2025 18:09:00 EET | Press release
HTEC Momentum (formerly Momentum Design Lab), HTEC’s research, product design, management and innovation arm, has earned two of Clutch’s highest distinctions—Global Award honoree and Clutch Champion—reaffirming its ninth straight year as the platform’s top-rated UX agency worldwide. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251209358771/en/ HTEC Momentum Recognized as a Clutch Global Honoree and Champion for Fall 2025 The Clutch Global Awards honorees are selected based on demonstrated industry expertise and exceptional delivery—evaluated through thousands of verified client reviews published on Clutch. Clutch’s rigorous, case-study-driven review process includes extensive verification to ensure the authenticity and depth of each submission. These distinctions further underscore HTEC Momentum’s position as a top-rated leader in UX strategy, design, and user research, reflecting the consistent satisfaction of our clients
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom