<p>Clinical diagnostics company Novacyt, one of many healthcare companies whose shares have surged during the pandemic, launched a test on Thursday to differentiate between Covid-19 and common winter diseases.</p>.<p>Novacyt said its "Winterplex" test panel included two gene targets specific to Covid-19, as well as gene targets for influenza A&B and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).</p>.<p>"We believe Winterplex is one of the world’s first approved respiratory test panels that can differentiate between Covid-19 and other common respiratory diseases," Novacyt CEO Graham Mullis said.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-india-world-coronavirus-vaccine-karnataka-maharashtra-tamil-nadu-delhi-kerala-gujarat-west-bengal-bangalore-mumbai-new-delhi-chennai-kolkata-cases-deaths-recoveries-876781.html" target="_blank"><strong>Follow live updates on the coronavirus here</strong></a></p>.<p>Novacyt said the new product was expected to drive major revenue growth, and Novacyt's Paris-listed shares rose by around 6% in early trading, with the stock price having already surged by around 1,900% since the start of 2020.</p>.<p>Novacyt's new polymerase chain reaction (PCR) respiratory test panel is one of many such 'PCR' type products already on the market, aimed at diagnosing the presence of Covid-19.</p>.<p>The PCR test is the preferred Covid-19 testing method in many countries. It detects the presence of the disease by amplifying its genetic material to a point where it can be spotted by scientists.</p>
<p>Clinical diagnostics company Novacyt, one of many healthcare companies whose shares have surged during the pandemic, launched a test on Thursday to differentiate between Covid-19 and common winter diseases.</p>.<p>Novacyt said its "Winterplex" test panel included two gene targets specific to Covid-19, as well as gene targets for influenza A&B and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).</p>.<p>"We believe Winterplex is one of the world’s first approved respiratory test panels that can differentiate between Covid-19 and other common respiratory diseases," Novacyt CEO Graham Mullis said.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-india-world-coronavirus-vaccine-karnataka-maharashtra-tamil-nadu-delhi-kerala-gujarat-west-bengal-bangalore-mumbai-new-delhi-chennai-kolkata-cases-deaths-recoveries-876781.html" target="_blank"><strong>Follow live updates on the coronavirus here</strong></a></p>.<p>Novacyt said the new product was expected to drive major revenue growth, and Novacyt's Paris-listed shares rose by around 6% in early trading, with the stock price having already surged by around 1,900% since the start of 2020.</p>.<p>Novacyt's new polymerase chain reaction (PCR) respiratory test panel is one of many such 'PCR' type products already on the market, aimed at diagnosing the presence of Covid-19.</p>.<p>The PCR test is the preferred Covid-19 testing method in many countries. It detects the presence of the disease by amplifying its genetic material to a point where it can be spotted by scientists.</p>