Alluxa Develops Thin Films for COVID-19 Detection Devices

Alluxa, Inc., the high-performance optical coatings and filters, has extended its Ultra Series to include high-performance polymerase chain reaction (PCR) specific filters. These filters were developed with higher performance optical characteristics and are intended to improve speed and efficiency of real time qPCR testing for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The new Ultra Series qPCR product family includes real-time, qPCR-specific filters for integration into medical equipment that performs COVID-19 testing of patient samples.

These ultra-steep filters with >OD6 blocking out of the band and state-of-the-art center wavelength tolerances of < ± 0.3% offer the highest transmission levels available with a passband average of >95% (see graphic). The new filters aid in the fluorescent detection of the virus and cover most common fluorophores for single and multiplexed qPCR filters, including FAM, Cy5, HEX, JOE, ROX, TexasRed®, and TRITC.

Alluxa is currently supplying OEM qPCR-specific optical filters which are assembled into medical instruments globally for use in PCR testing of individuals.

According to CCO, Peter Egerton, "As an 'essential business' in this trying time, we have moved quickly to offer our optical coating expertise and stand ready to help with the deployment, improvement, or development of technologies including qPCR to help slow the pandemic. We are grateful for our dedicated team of engineers and support personnel, our customers, and their collective experience and commitment to help fight this virus by any means necessary."

The company provides thin-film optics for a wide variety of applications, including autonomous vehicles, telecommunications, robotics, semiconductors, and defense.