Ginkgo Bioworks and Xwell partner in influenza variant detection for CDC

Ginkgo Bioworks (DNA) and Xwell (XWEL) have expanded their support for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s – CDC’s – Traveler-based Genomic Surveillance program to include a pilot study monitoring influenza viruses in addition to SARS-CoV-2. The partners continue to grow the program’s capabilities to provide an additional source of viral surveillance to inform the selection of influenza vaccine viruses for the forthcoming 2023-2024 flu season. Since August 2021, the program, which is also being used to conduct surveillance for SARS-CoV-2, has delivered public health insights into rare and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and sublineages and informed responses to outbreaks and surges through a public-private partnership between CDC, Concentric by Ginkgo, the biosecurity and public health unit of Ginkgo Bioworks, and XpresCheck by Xwell, a provider of SARS-CoV-2 testing in U.S. airports.