ALREADY a respected name in molecular diagnostics around the globe, Nagpur-born doctors Dr Shazi Iqbal and Dr Shahin Iqbal have carved another niche with a breakthrough direct sample addition COVID-19 test. The ‘Xfree’ COVID-19 test by Dr Iqbal’s American Medtech firm BioGX provides robust strain coverage for all prevalent strains including the Delta variant. BioGX, a global provider of molecular diagnostic solutions, has also received Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for the ‘Xfree’ COVID-19 test from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). “Our test not only enables laboratories of all sizes to perform high-performance cost-effective testing, but also provides robust strain coverage for all prevalent strains, including the rapidly spreading Delta variant,” said Dr Shazi Iqbal, CEO of BioGX. Xfree COVID-19 is a complete test lyophilised in a single tube, for extraction-free, direct sample addition real-time RT-PCR testing.

 

(Lyophilisation is a water removal process used to preserve perishable materials, to extend shelf life or make the material more convenient for transport.) Elaborating on the breakthrough direct sample test, Dr Iqbal informed ‘The Hitavada’ that the Xfree COVID-19 test eliminates all upfront sample processing steps and enables clinical laboratories to generate high-throughput Sample-to-Answer results using widely available real-time PCR platforms. During studies, BioGX’s test performed better than other SARS-CoV-2 tests. “It is very simple to use and provides increased quality assurance,” Dr Iqbal further said. BioGX supplies hundreds of thousands of coronavirus test kits per week to over 50 countries.

 

The company was well prepared for the pandemic when the coronavirus first hit the world in 2020 on the dint of its previous experience of developing a molecular test for swine flu in 2008. Dr Iqbal brothers formed BioGX company in Birmingham, Alabama after Dr Shazi moved to the USA in 1996 for MS and PhD after completing his MSc from LIT. He is an alumnus of SFS School and completed his BSc from Hislop College. BioGX is now a leading global provider of lyophilised real-time PCR reagents for molecular diagnostics under the leadership of owner and CEO Dr Shazi and Sr Vice-President (Global Operations) Dr Shahin. The Iqbal brothers are sons of Javed Iqbal, Assistant Conservator of Forest (Retd), and Dr Rehana Javed, former HoD in LAD College and ex-chairperson of Board of Studies (Urdu) Nagpur University.