Mawi iSWAB Microbiome-EL Enables Prime Discoveries’ Development of Rapid Extraction-Less COVID Diagnostic Assay
25.4.2022 16:00:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Mawi DNA Technologies (Mawi), a biotechnology company focusing on the development of innovative technologies for biosampling, announces that Prime Discoveries has successfully developed CovidDetect™, a rapid isothermal amplification diagnostic assay for detecting SARS-CoV-2. Without the need for RNA extraction and purification, the sample result occurs in less than 30 minutes. The assay uses Mawi’s new iSWAB Microbiome-EL (Extraction-Less) sample collection technology. This allows RNA release from the sample and maintains stability, protecting it from degradation and allowing room temperature storage and transport.
Prime Discoveries recently received CE IVD marking for CovidDetect™ and plans to pursue FDA 510K approval soon. Clinical results from Prime CovidDetect™ has been peer reviewed and recently published in PLOS ONE under “A Rapid, Specific, Extraction-Less, and Cost-Effective RT-LAMP Test for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Clinical Specimens.” The CE marking allows deployment of a solution to countries in Africa and Asia where rapid, inexpensive diagnostics for various infections with minimal technical expertise and equipment infrastructure is highly required.
Prime CovidDetect™ leverages Mawi’s unique iSWAB Microbiome-EL sample collection buffer with Prime Discoveries’ patented Loop AMPlification (LAMP) technology. This allows isothermal nucleic acid amplification removing the need for expensive thermal cycling equipment required for PCR. The Extraction-Less protocol bypasses the expensive and complex nucleic acid extraction and purification step, saving 60-90 minutes of sample processing time needed for PCR.
Arun Manoharan, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer at Prime Discoveries, said, “The COVID pandemic has shown that there is a big need for rapid diagnostic assays. Prime Discoveries aims to build a portfolio of solutions which can provide results in under 45 minutes with minimal laboratory, reagent and technical skill requirements. This is ideal for point of care testing in rural neighborhoods, mobile testing, border points of entry and clinical locations with minimal infrastructure. Our work with COVID has shown stable performance of the Mawi iSWAB Microbiome-EL for hundreds of clinical samples with similar or superior performance to RT-PCR solutions. Samples have been stable for more than two weeks with minimal RNA degradation along with high compatibility with our isothermal nucleic acid amplification techniques.” He added, “Our partnership with Mawi enables Prime Discoveries to develop room temperature sampling with Extraction-Less capabilities for our rapid diagnostic solutions in many areas. These include influenza, chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomonas, HBV, HCV, HPV, TB, herpes, syphilis, etc. We are excited to partner with Mawi for future products empowering customers to test thousands of patients rapidly for various infections including respiratory, gastrointestinal, sexually transmitted pathogens and those with anti-microbial resistance.”
About Prime Discoveries
Prime Discoveries develops rapid, novel diagnostics for emerging pathogen infections with a focus on cost effective, massively scalable and easily automatable assays. Founded in NYC in 2017, Prime’s scientists have extensive backgrounds in microbiology, computational biology, lab automation and AI from Genentech, Cooper Genomics, Recombine, Phosphorus, and NYU. Prime is advised by leading experts in the fields of genomics and public health including Dr. George Church and New York University. Prime is supported by academic institutions, venture capital firms and angel investors including New York University, Charles Zegar (Bloomberg), Esther Dyson (23 & Me), BoxGroup, Akron Fusion Ventures, Beresford Ventures, Cannonball Capital, Liquid 2 Ventures, Francois Nader (Moderna, Acceleron, Shire), Unshackled Ventures, Doberman Forward, and others. For more information, visit www.primediscoveries.com.
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’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, The Future of Biosampling is Here™. For more information, visit http://www.mawidna.com.
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/20220425005323/en/
Contact information
Investors:
Jerome David, VP of Sales and Marketing
510-256-5186, j.david@mawidna.com
Media Contact:
Susan Tellem, APR, RN, BSN
310-313-3444, susan@tellemgrodypr.com
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
EURONAVAL 2026: Naval Group and Technology Innovation Institute (TII) Sign an Agreement to Pool Their Expertise in Advanced Autonomous Underwater Technologies.5.11.2026 13:48:00 EET | Press release
The Technology Innovation Institute, the applied-research pillar of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), has signed an agreement with Naval Group, a global leader in naval defense, to advance cooperation in autonomous underwater technologies. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261105684133/en/ EURONAVAL 2026: Naval Group and Technology Innovation Institute (TII) sign an agreement to pool their expertise in advanced autonomous underwater technologies. (Photo: AETOSWire) Announced during Euronaval 2026, the collaboration will focus on exploring opportunities for the joint development and commercialization of uncrewed underwater vehicles. The ambition is to deliver advanced autonomous solutions for persistent maritime surveillance and underwater reconnaissance for operations in non-contested waters, in addition to the ambition of delivering combat UUV for operations in contested waters. A key are
Sugar Taxes Under Scrutiny: New Competere Study Questions Health Outcomes and Warns of Unintended Consequences5.11.2026 13:00:00 EET | Press release
As governments debate sugar taxation and nutrition measures, a new policy paper asks a critical question: Do these interventions deliver lasting health improvements, for whom, and at what cost? Published by Competere with the support of the Association of Latin American Sugar Producers (UNALA), Understanding Sugar Beyond the Narrative – by Pietro Paganini – offers policymakers, journalists, and consumers an accessible guide to sugar’s role in health, sustainability, and the global economy. Combining scientific evidence with economic and policy analysis, the paper challenges common misconceptions and examines whether taxation, warning labels, and reformulation deliver measurable health benefits. While sugar taxes can influence prices, purchases, and product composition, evidence of lasting improvements in obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular health remains limited. Intermediate outcomes should not be confused with demonstrated health benefits. Reviewed studies estimate reductions of 2.
BeOne Medicines Announces Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results and Business Updates5.11.2026 13:00:00 EET | Press release
BeOne Medicines Ltd. (NASDAQ: ONC; HKEX: 06160; SSE: 688235), a global oncology company, today announced financial results and corporate updates from the third quarter of 2026. John V. Oyler, Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO, BeOne, said: “Our strong third quarter results and raised full-year guidance reflect continued rapid global growth and leadership in hematology, anchored by our foundational BTK inhibitor BRUKINSA, which drives powerful and sustained responses in patients, and now joined by our next-generation BCL2 inhibitor BEQALZI. We look forward to multiple catalysts in the coming months from one of the deepest pipelines in oncology, spanning hematology and solid tumors, accelerated by our differentiated capabilities in R&D, manufacturing, and commercialization.” (Amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars and unaudited) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2026 2025 % Change 2026 2025 % Change Net product revenues $ 1,855,057 $ 1,395,013 33 % $ 5,022,180 $
Klarna Goes Global With Anti-Scam Call Verification5.11.2026 12:52:00 EET | Press release
Klarna, the everyday finance network, today announced its popular in-app Call Status Detection tool is now live globally, giving consumers a reliable and simple way to check whether someone calling them is genuinely from Klarna. Call Status Detection has already helped thousands of consumers verify calls since it launched in the Nordics in September. The feature has now been rolled out globally, reflecting Klarna’s commitment to protecting its customers from fraud. Call Status Detection is quick and easy to use by design. If a customer takes a call from someone claiming to be Klarna, all they have to do is open the Klarna app and check the banner at the top of their screen — green means the call is verified and it is safe to continue, while amber means Klarna cannot verify the call and the customer should hang up. The feature builds on Klarna’s existing anti-fraud measures like the Klarna Inbox, which enables verification of written communication like emails, texts and letters, and aim
Prodalim Acquires South Africa’s Brenn-O-Kem, Expanding Its Global Circular Economy Platform with High-Value Grape-Based Specialty Ingredients5.11.2026 12:17:00 EET | Press release
Prodalim announced the acquisition of Brenn-O-Kem (BOK), a South African leader in upcycling winery by-products into high-value specialty ingredients for the wine, food and beverage, nutraceutical, agricultural and pharmaceutical industries. The acquisition strengthens Prodalim’s global circular economy platform. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261103526127/en/ BOK transforms grape pomace and wine lees into a broad portfolio of natural, clean-label ingredients, including recycled aromatic alcohol for the wine and spirits industry; tartaric acid and derivatives for food, beverage and pharmaceutical applications; grape seed extracts for nutraceuticals; grape skin extracts for natural colors; grape seed oils and wine concentrates for culinary applications; and recycled compost for animal nutrition. Prodalim will acquire 93.25% of BOK for 37M USD. Founded in 1968, BOK operates three production sites in South Afric
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