This month's top tech news stories

Thermo Fisher Scientific
Viral transport medium
A viral transport medium enabling collection and rapid inactivation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which stabilises viral RNA at ambient temperature for transport and use in in vitro diagnostic testing procedures is available in Europe. Thermo Fisher Scientific developed the InhibiSURE Viral Inactivation Medium formula to be non-hazardous. Use of inactivation medium also removes the need for further inactivation steps, increasing lab throughput.
Alpha Laboratories

Sepsis detection
The BIOFIRE Blood Culture Identification 2 (BCID2) Panel rapidly detects pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes, directly from positive blood cultures, to shorten the time to optimal therapy for sepsis.
To monitor accuracy and precision of the whole system, the new Streck MDx-Chex Control is the first-of-its-kind quality control, specifically designed to meet the standards for verifying the entire analytical process of the BioFire BCID2 sepsis assay. It is now available in the UK.
Viapath

£1m innovation fund
A pathology partnership is celebrating its first anniversary with the launch of an initiative making thousands of pounds available for groundbreaking research projects.
SYNLAB’s partnership with Guy’s and St Thomas’, and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trusts – known as Viapath – was formed in April last year. Twelve months on, it has unveiled the Innovation Accelerator Fund (IAF).
The £1m funding pot provides a unique support opportunity for projects that drive innovation in the pathology field, encourage scientific research and development, and develop services that benefit patients.
Image credit | iStock