Long Island's Enzo Biochem To Launch Monkeypox Testing Services

FARMINGDALE, NY — Enzo Biochem, Inc., a biosciences and diagnostics company based in Farmingdale, is set to begin monkeypox testing at its laboratory this week, the company announced Thursday.

“As a leader in testing services for many viral pathogens, Enzo’s clinical labs understands and supports the public health issues posed by monkeypox," Hamid Erfanian, CEO of Enzo Biochem, stated. "We are at the forefront of responding to the urgent need for this test, given the rapid increase in incidence of monkeypox throughout the U.S. population and globally. We remain committed to working with our industry partners to address this emerging challenge and make testing more accessible in our communities.”

Monkeypox is a rare, infectious viral disease that spreads by person-to-person transmission, through skin-to-skin contact, fomites, contact with body fluids, or lesion materials, and can lead to serious health consequences, the company stated.

The monkeypox virus — or orthopoxvirus — belongs to the same family of viruses as the variola virus, the pathogen that causes smallpox. Monkeypox has been spreading globally in recent months, having infected more than 30,000 people worldwide. Approximately 9,500 cases of monkeypox have been diagnosed in the U.S., with many more cases likely unreported.

The monkeypox test to be offered by Enzo is an FDA-cleared, PCR-based DNA assay developed by the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Enzo Biochem said it plans to accelerate test turnaround times and provide improved accuracy. In consultation with the CDC and the FDA, the company plans to implement these enhanced test features. Enzo continues to meet the needs of our clients in their efforts to provide comprehensive diagnostic testing solutions for emerging pathogens.