FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FEB. 25 

 REDITUS SEQUENCING SHOWS PRESENCE OF OMICRON SUBLINEAGE BA.2

PEKIN – A COVID-19 variant of concern, the omicron sub-lineage BA.2, has been identified in Central Illinois by Reditus Laboratories. 

Two cases of the BA.2 subvariant were identified by Reditus during a Feb. 19 sequencing run using the lab’s Illumina NextSeq Sequencing technology, Reditus CEO Dr. Aaron Rossi reported on Friday. Both cases of BA.2 were Central Illinois residents, he said. 

The 359 SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) samples sequenced on Feb. 19 were collected between Jan. 29 and Feb. 15 and most were from Illinois residents, Dr. Rossi said. Of the 359, 12 were identified as delta lineage and 347 were identified as the omicron lineage. Two of the 347 were identified as the BA.2 sublineage and 345 were the BA.1, Dr. Rossi said. 

The newer BA.2 subvariant appears to be more transmissible than BA.1, which remains the most common omicron sublineage, according to the World Health Organization. BA.2 is spreading, even as the omicron surge dissipates. Experts have said that the subvariant is expected to slow the decrease in cases. 

Dr. Rossi said the Reditus sequencing shows the presence of BA.2 in Central Illinois. 

“It’s amazing to see how quickly this virus keeps mutating,” Dr. Rossi said. “Hopefully, it will continue down this pathway of being less pathogenic, meaning individuals aren’t getting as sick and there will be fewer hospitalizations.” 

Reditus tests nasal samples collected for COVID-19 using gold-standard PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing. Reditus’s average turnaround time for processing test results is about 20 hours. Reditus sequencing data is shared with the Illinois Department of Public Health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and GISAID, a global initiative that provides access to genomic data of influenza viruses and COVID-19. 

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Reditus Laboratories is a full-service laboratory company with a heavy focus on molecular diagnostics. Based in Pekin, Illinois, Reditus provides top-tier, accurate anatomical and clinical pathology services, including cytology, histology and molecular testing. Reditus is accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and is certified by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) program. Additional information is at www.redituslabs.com, as well as on Facebook at Reditus Laboratories and Twitter @ReditusLabs.

Contact: Paul Swiech, Reditus Laboratories

 p.swiech@redituslabs.com 

866-736-0002, ext. 941