Home - Thola Biotechnologies

A Subsidiary of Elu Healthcare Holdings

Providing global protection and detection solutions to preserve the health of local communities.

Thola Biotechnologies, an African based biotechnology company that was formed to provide solutions to the medical services sector, born out of the Coronavirus pandemic.

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I took this test before going to see my family. It was easy to use... just saliva. After doing some research, it seems to be the most accurate test on the market.

I wanted to know if I needed to quarantine in order to protect my friends and family. I researched the best at home test for accuracy and ease of use - and this was the stand out favorite.

This is best test on the market. No painful nose swab, just an easy spit tube. It has a highly sensitive level of detection which means it can detect even the smallest amount of virus in you. High sensitivity = highly accurate test.

SEROLOGICAL APPROACHES FOR COVID-19

Antigenic drift: the accumulations of mutations. SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 mutation demonstrate a mutation on the spike protein that allows for greater binding affinity to the ACE2 receptor, allowing for increased transmissibility.

Mutations in S gene, coding for the spike protein could cause S gene fall out in testing implications and reduce testing accuracy.

PCR testing directly tests for the presence of virus and common PCR assays like Thermofisher detects 3 targets → S, ORF1a and E gene have shown S gene fall outs in UK (N439k) and South African variant (501Y.V2) .

Testing therefore in South Africa is shifting away from Spiking protein or S gene detection and preferring Nucleocapsid or N gene targets.

WHAT IS PCR TESTING?

Testing for the presence of the virus Gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19

CHALLENGES

Need skilled individuals to perform test
Test can only be performed in an accredit molecular laboratory
Most expensive test compared to antigen and antibody test

BENEFITS

Very Accurate with high sensitivity and specificity rates
Reliant and accurate results

Test is performed from a nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swaps

WHAT IS ANTIGEN TESTING?

Testing for the presence of the virus Used in screening for COVID-19

CHALLENGES

Test is not as accurate as a PCR
Should only be used in a screening setting
A positive result should be confirmed with PCR test

BENEFITS

Benefits
Cost-effective screening tool
Point-of-care
Rapid solution-results within 10 min
No laboratory or instruments needed

Test is performed from a nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swaps

WHAT IS ANTIBODY TESTING?

Testing the response of the body when it was exposed to COVID-19

Should be used after COVID-19 infection or vaccination to determine if the body produced antibodies/immune response against the virus.

This test should not be used to diagnose COVID-19

CHALLENGES

Late onset of detection and some of the population does not seroconvert therefore did not develop antibodies against COVID-19
Least accurate from testing techniques

BENEFITS

Rapid test-results within 10 min
Point-of-care solution
Cost-effective

Test is performed from whole blood, blood serum or blood plasma. A skilled individual will have to draw blood to perform this test

3 DIFFERENT TESTING REGIMES FOR COVID-19 CAN BE FOUND

RT-PCR TESTING

Know as gthe most accurate, and the only true test to diagnose COVID-19

RT-PCR TESTING

Know as gold standard, and the only true test to diagnose COVID-19

ANTIGEN TESTING

Testing for the presence of viral particles, like PCR, commonly used for screening purposes as a rapid viral detection

ANTIGEN TESTING

Testing for the presence of viral particles, like PCR, commonly used for screening purposes as a rapid viral detection

ANTIBODY TESTING

Testing if and how the body reacts if it was exposed to specific virions

ANTIBODY TESTING

Testing if and how the body reacts if it was exposed to specific virions

What happens if I test positive for COVID-19?

Please keep in contact with your health care provider telephonically to monitor your progress.

Your healthcare provider will assess you in terms of your current coronavirus illness and your other risk factors for more severe illness (i.e. older age, serious underlying medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, heart disease, lung disease and immunosuppression, etc.).

Do smokers get more severe symptoms of COVID-19 if infected?

Smoking any kind of tobacco reduces lung capacity and increases the risk of many respiratory infections and can increase the severity of respiratory diseases. COVID-19 is an infectious disease that primarily attacks the lungs. Smoking impairs lung function making it harder for the body to fight off coronaviruses and other respiratory diseases. Available research suggests that smokers are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 outcomes and death.

What happens if my symptoms get worse?

While you are recovering at home, your doctor or a public health official will check in with you about how you’re feeling. You must tell them if you notice new or worsening symptoms, so they can make the best decision about how to manage your illness. If you become more unwell, they may decide you need to be moved to hospital.

If you notice new or worsening symptoms that are concerning you at any time, contact your doctor, ambulance or call 0800 029 999.

How can I help a family member with COVID-19 at home?

The ill person should stay in a separate room. If this is not possible, then keep at least a 1-metre distance from them. The sick person and anyone else in the same room should wear a medical mask.

Provide good ventilation in the room of the ill person and shared spaces, and open windows if possible and safe to do so.

When to call an ambulance

You should always call an ambulance if:

you are experiencing severe symptoms, like shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
you think it’s an emergency
you think your life or someone else’s life is in danger.

In a medical emergency in South Africa, call 10111 or 10177.

HIPRO RAPID SARS-COV-2 ANTIGEN TEST KIT

THOLA BIOTECHNOLOGIES

We will apply to the Ministry of Health Italia for approval of HIPRO Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Antigen test kit to be distributed in Italia.

This product is cost-effective and a rapid point-of-care solution. With individually packaged buffer solutions for every test, minimizing possible buffer contamination, and the specimen used is saliva this product a valuable prospect for self testing solutions or non professional.

This saliva based antigen tests from HIPRO detects antigen based on the viral nucleocapsid protein coded by the very stable N gene and will be useful to test children due to the non-invasive sample collection technique.

Sensitivity (Positive incidence rate): 70%

Specificity (Negative incidence rate): 85,5%

Thola Biotechnologies Is Focused Around Public Health And Safety

We offer a complete turnkey service including assessment, design, supply, financing, implementation, asset management and ongoing maintenance of group specific projects in the public and private sector, providing ongoing impartial advice to key clients and active participation in each of our key focus areas. Together with our partners, we have completed some leading commercial projects across Africa in excess of $200 million and have developed various projects in excess of $1 billion.

Safe & Effective

Preventative

Antibody Testing

Immunity Passports

Antibody Testing

Guide on types of COVID-19 test Kits: Helping to protect you from getting COVID-19

Learn more about the types of test kits that we have avaliable

Thola Biotechnologies is a subsidiary of Elu Healthcare Holdings, an African based biotechnology company that was formed to provide solutions to the medical services sector, born out of the Coronavirus pandemic.