Monitoring emerging
SARS-CoV-2 variants

Detect the presence and manage the impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants

Widespread, standardised efforts to monitor and sequence SARS-CoV-2 samples will enable fast, efficient identification and management of viral mutations.

Arising mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 genome calls for global due diligence to closely monitor any variants to ensure diagnostic tests, vaccines, antiviral therapies and public health control measures remain effective.

In order to track variants, a portion of positive SARS-CoV-2 samples should be sequenced to detect novel variants or confirm known variants. Once the variant sequences are available, PCR genotyping assays have been developed to target particular mutations, thereby detecting the presence of variants in a region. This process constitutes the genomic surveillance programmes to detect, characterise and monitor SARS-CoV-2 variants over time.

PCR-based solutions
Whole genome
sequencing
Genotyping
by RT-PCR
Quality
solutions

PCR-based solutions

Monitor for COVID-19 with confidence

PCR testing protocols

Whole genome sequencing (WGS)

Stay on top of emerging variants

Whole genome sequencing services

Genotyping by RT-PCR

Monitor known variants

SARS-CoV-2 Variant ValuPanel assays

How are SARS-CoV-2 variants classified?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies variants into two groupings: Variants of Interest and Variants of Concern. Variants of Interest escalate to Variants of Concern after they reach certain criteria as listed by the table below:

Variants of Concern (VOC) ¹

WHO label

Pango lineage

First identified

Alpha
B.1.1.7

UK
Beta
B.1.351

South Africa
Gamma
P.1

Brazil
Delta
B.1.617.2

India
Omicron
B.1.1.529

South Africa

A mutation becomes a VOC when it impacts one or more of these public health concerns:

Increase in transmissibility or detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology;
Worsening in the severity of the disease or changes in symptoms;
Reduced efficacy of public health and social measures, diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics.

Variants of Interest (VOI) ¹

A SARS-CoV-2 mutation becomes a Variant of Interest when:

The mutant is suspected or confirmed to exhibit a different trait when compared to the wild type (the dominant phenotype of the virus)
Worsening in the severity of the disease or changes in symptoms;
It has been identified to cause community spread, a cluster of COVID-19 cases, appear in multiple countries, or otherwise indicated by the WHO SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution Working Group.

¹ Definitions of variants as deemed by the WHO.