AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Babson Diagnostics (Babson), a transformative diagnostic blood testing company, announced today it has entered into a collaborative research agreement with Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin (Dell Med) to study the immune response to COVID-19. The announcement follows the recent launch of Babson’s IgG serology test, which yielded 93.2 percent sensitivity and 100.0 percent specificity in its clinical performance evaluation and has been submitted to the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization.

The longitudinal research study is designed to measure the adaptive immune response to SARS-CoV-2 by following individuals over a two-year period. The initial phase of the study begins with 200 COVID-19 positive individuals, including patients and health care workers from UT Health Austin, the clinical practice of Dell Med. Babson will provide serology testing services as part of the collaboration. The research is designed to inform the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 infections as well as guide the allocation of critical medical resources.

“This research marks a vital step forward in understanding and managing COVID-19,” said Esther Melamed, M.D., Ph.D., neuroimmunologist, assistant professor in the department of neurology at Dell Med and principal investigator for the study. “Accurate testing for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and a deeper understanding of the evolving adaptive immune response will help identify risk factors for COVID-19 disease severity and recovery, and will lead toward the next steps of identifying convalescent serum donors to treat the critically ill and developing protective vaccines.”

“Collaborative initiatives like this one help to advance Dell Med’s goal of accelerating the pace of research so that the community can benefit as quickly as possible from innovative health solutions,” said Stephen Strakowski, M.D., vice dean of research at Dell Med.

Babson’s pipeline of fully automated serology assays are heterogeneous immunoassays analyzed on high-throughput commercial analyzers in the company’s CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited, high-complexity clinical laboratory located in Austin.

“Researching and understanding the immune response to COVID-19 is essentially new science,” said Eric Olson, Babson’s founder and CEO. “We still have so much to learn and discover about this virus. Collaborating with pioneering institutions like Dell Medical School will enable Babson to significantly advance our collective understanding of the virus, fueling research and development on the next generation of diagnostic and therapeutic technologies.”

The research initiative is a continuation of the collaborative relationship Babson and Dell Med have maintained since Babson became one of the first companies to take up residence within Dell Med’s WorkSpaces, part of the Texas Health CoLab, a center for health product innovation entrepreneurship aligned with the medical school’s mission.

Babson also initiated its own clinical study to further validate its serology testing services. To learn more about Babson’s serology testing services and clinical studies, click here.

About Babson Diagnostics

Babson Diagnostics aims to bring diagnostic blood testing to the retail pharmacy counter, making it easier, faster, and more pleasant for customers to routinely monitor and improve their health. Babson’s proprietary technological ecosystem is designed to deliver accurate diagnostic results with a more human experience. Based in Austin, Texas, its vision for diagnostic blood testing—built on accuracy, convenience, and accessibility—combines transformative diagnostic technology with a customer-first, retail-centric business model that aims to improve customer health and experience. Prior to commercialization, Babson Diagnostics is working with retail pharmacies to validate its technology by conducting clinical studies intended for peer-reviewed publication. For more information on Babson Diagnostics, please visit www.babsondx.com.

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