Mawi DNA Technologies Receives 510(k) Clearance for iSWAB-Respiratory Tract Sample Collection Media-Extraction Less for SARS-CoV-2
25.4.2023 15:00:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Mawi DNA Technologies (Mawi DNA), a biotechnology company focusing on the development and design of innovative technologies for biosampling, announces that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) clearance for the company’s iSWAB-Respiratory Tract Sample Collection Media-Extraction Less™ (iSWAB-RC-EL). The iSWAB-RC-EL collection device is intended for the stabilization and inactivation of human upper respiratory and saliva bio specimens suspected of containing SARS-CoV-2, and can be used for collection, transport, and storage at ambient temperature. Specimens collected in the iSWAB-RC-EL collection device are suitable for use with legally marketed molecular diagnostic tests.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230425005502/en/
(Graphic: Business Wire)
Mawi DNA developed the iSWAB-RC-EL bio sampling device for surveillance testing of COVID-19 and its variants in any clinical setting. The iSWAB-RC-EL is currently being used worldwide for population-scale sampling to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 spread, and it enables hospital and clinical lab personnel to skip the RNA extraction step in the PCR testing protocol. The biosampling device also offers a non-toxic formulation that inactivates viruses to decrease potential spread and exposure, especially among lab personnel processing these samples.
“Our goal was to respond to current and future pandemics faster by removing the need for RNA extraction and the consumables required to process viral samples, which also has the added effect of increasing testing throughput,” said Dr. Bassam El-Fahmawi, Ph.D., chief executive officer and chief technical officer of Mawi DNA Technologies. “This product was also formulated to be non-toxic and non-hazardous by being free of guanidine salts while inactivating the virus, so our colleagues processing samples can conduct this invaluable service with peace of mind.”
Mawi DNA developed the new iSWAB-RC-EL collection device to address many of the inefficiencies in viral sample collection and transport technologies exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially with cold chain transportation requirements and extremely short time frames for viral nucleic acid stabilization. The pandemic also exposed supply chain weaknesses, including shortages of RNA extraction reagents.
The iSWAB-RC-EL collection device is available immediately to hospital and clinical labs. To learn more about the iSWAB-RC-EL collection device or to request a sample, visit https://mawidna.com/request-sample-kit/.
About Mawi DNA Technologies
Mawi DNA Technologies, founded in 2013, has developed and commercialized the iSWAB technology, an innovative system for collection of biosamples. Mawi DNA’s mission is to uphold sample integrity from anywhere in the world at room temperature, enabling true sample diversity across any geography or population segment. At Mawi DNA, The Future of Biosampling is Here™. For more information, visit www.mawidna.com and follow the company on LinkedIn and Twitter.
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/20230425005502/en/
Contact information
Investors
Jerome David, Chief of Staff
Mawi DNA Technologies
510-256-5186
j.david@mawidna.com
Media
Jessica Volchok
jessica@merrymancommunications.com
310-849-7985
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
HistoSonics Treats First Patients Evaluating the Edison® Histotripsy System for the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)30.3.2026 15:00:00 EEST | Press release
HistoSonics, the developer of the Edison® Histotripsy System and novel histotripsy therapy platform, today announced the successful treatments of the first patients in WOLVERINE, a prospective feasibility trial evaluating the Edison® Histotripsy System for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) at Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong, a teaching hospital for The Chinese University of Hong Kong. The Edison System is a novel, non-invasive, image guided platform that uses the mechanical properties of focused ultrasound, called histotripsy, to destroy unwanted tissue without the need for invasive procedures, and with potentially fewer side effects than traditional, invasive therapies. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260330349844/en/ HistoSonics Non-Invasive Edison Histotripsy System. Image credit: HistoSonics WOLVERINE is a prospective, multi-center, single-arm feasibility trial designed to evaluate
Westinghouse Celebrates Record-breaking 80 Years of Nuclear Fuel Manufacture at Springfields30.3.2026 15:00:00 EEST | Press release
The Westinghouse Springfields facility in Lancashire, UK, has marked a significant milestone as the oldest continuous nuclear fuel manufacturing site in the world, starting from its original license on the 28th, March 1946. The site was chosen by the UK Government to develop nuclear fuel for the world’s earliest civil nuclear power stations, as well as subsequent Magnox and Advanced Gas Reactors (AGR) reactors. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260330135973/en/ From left to right: Sophie Lemaire; Marc Chevrel; Rory O'Neill; Craig Boothby; and Robert Gofton, CEO at Nuclear Institute Across the last eight decades, the Springfields site has supported the UK nuclear fleet, manufacturing more than eight million AGR pins, sintering and pressing over 500 million AGR uranium pellets and 222,000 AGR grids – which is equivalent to burning over 685 tonnes of coal, avoiding the emission of nearly 3 billion tonnes of CO2. Sp
Biocytogen Grants Taisho Pharmaceutical a License to its RenNano ® Fully Human Heavy Chain-Only Antibody Discovery Platform30.3.2026 14:00:00 EEST | Press release
Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (Biocytogen, SSE: 688796; HKEX: 02315), a global biotechnology company that drives the research and development of novel antibody-based drugs with innovative technologies, today announced that it has entered into a platform license agreement with Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“Taisho”), granting Taisho the right to access and use Biocytogen’s proprietary RenNano® fully human heavy chain-only antibody (HCAbs) discovery platform for its internal research and development programs. Under the terms of the agreement, Taisho will leverage RenNano® mice to enable the generation and screening of fully human HCAbs in vivo and to support downstream research associated with antibody discovery. Financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. “We are very pleased to enter into this collaboration with Taisho,” said Dr. Yuelei Shen, President and CEO of Biocytogen. “RenNano® is a robust and powerful fully human VHH discovery platform that pro
Meiji Seika Pharma Invests in Centivax to Develop Next Generation Universal Vaccine Platform30.3.2026 14:00:00 EEST | Press release
Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, President and Representative Director: Toshiaki Nagasato) today announced a strategic investment in Centivax, Inc. (Head Office: South San Francisco, CA, USA), a biotechnology company developing next-generation vaccines and therapies for universal protection against highly diverse targets. Centivax’s lead program includes a universal seasonal influenza vaccine (Centi-Flu 01) currently in a Phase 1 clinical study. Unlike conventional seasonal flu vaccines, which must be manufactured annually based on recommended candidate vaccine viruses, Centivax’s platform focuses both antibody and cellular immune responses on conserved regions of the influenza virus that cannot mutate and are shared across strains and distant subtypes. This approach aims to generate broad, consistent, and durable immunity against both seasonal and pandemic influenza. Meiji’s strategic investment aims to accelerate the advancement of Centi-Flu 01 and further a
Samsung Biologics Strike: Labor Union Warns of CDMO Supply Chain Risks Following Overwhelming Vote30.3.2026 12:52:00 EEST | Press release
The Samsung Biologics Labor Union (President: Jaesung Park), representing approximately 75% of the company's total employees, announced today that its members have overwhelmingly voted in favor of a strike, with 95.52% voting in favor on a 95.38% turnout during a voting period from March 24 to March 29. Following the Incheon Regional Labor Relations Commission's decision to cease mediation, the union has now secured the legal mandate to strike. The union stressed that this strike is not merely a wage dispute. It stems from deep structural concerns regarding the company’s ESG management, lack of operational autonomy, and passive labor relations. Primarily, the union highlighted unresolved corporate governance issues, including allegations concerning unfair labor practices and the unauthorized use of employee personal data, which were prominently reported by South Korea's major broadcaster, MBC, in November 2025. The union believes this crisis stems from management's failure to address r
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
