6 million euros have been poured into our brand new production site in Göttingen. Until now, rapid tests were put together manually in small numbers. Subsidies from two federal ministries as well as money from REACT-EU have now supported the renovation and expansion of our company site, as well as the installation of the fully automated production plant.

Even before COVID-19 antigen rapid antigen tests (RATs) get their approval, they are thoroughly evaluated in a number of clinical settings as part of a performance evaluation for in-vitro diagnostic devices. The results of these studies serve as the basis of the performance section in the instructions for use.

Since the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, various mutations have occurred in this virus, resulting in a large number of variants. The majority of these mutations have no discernible effect on the virus, its infectivity or the course of COVID-19 disease.

Mutations in the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 have recently been the focus of both the media and scientific community. Virus variants like those from Great Britain (VOC-202012/01, lineage B.1.1.7), South Africa (VOC-202012/02, lineage B.1.351) and Brazil (lineage P.1), which were first seen in December 2020, have been known to spread rapidly.

The cold can affect the results of a COVID-19 antigen test. For this reason, the medical technology firm nal von minden from Moers, Germany, emphasises that the rapid tests should not be used outside in winter in temperatures under 15 degrees Celsius.