Huwel’s Quantiplus® Multiplex COVID-19 Fast PCR Kit (Real Time Qualitative PCR Kit) detects new strain of Covid-19 named JN.1 and other variants of COVID-19. Quantiplus® Multiplex COVID-19 Fast PCR Kit (Real Time Qualitative PCR Kit) is an ICMR approved IVD kit.
A new strain of Covid-19, named JN.1, has been recently detected in Karakulam, Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala and now it is spreading throughout India in a very fast manner. This variant has been mainly identified in the US, China, UK, Canada Singpore and India. JN.1 is a descendent lineage of BA.2.86, in comparison with the parent lineage BA.2.86, JN.1 has the additional L455S mutation in the spike protein (3). Previously, JN.1 was tracked as part of BA.2.86, the parent lineage that is classified as a variant of interest (VOI). However, in recent weeks, JN.1 continues to be reported in multiple countries, and its prevalence has been rapidly increasing globally. Due to its rapidly increasing spread, WHO is classifying JN.1 as a separate variant of interest (VOI) from the parent lineage BA.2.86. The JN.1 variant shares similarities with previous Omicron strains in terms of high transmissibility and mild symptoms.
Due to differential vaccine coverage and circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants around the world, population immunity remains heterogenous globally and therefore, the immune escape potential of JN.1 depends on the immune background of the population tested. Whereas the immune escape of BA.2.86.1 (JN.1’s parent lineage) from XBB.1.5 and EG.5.1, breakthrough infection appears to be similar to concurrently circulating variants such as HK.3, JN.1 displays a higher immune evasion property.