Information Regarding SARS-CoV-2 Strains and Reagents

FAQs 

Materials Available

Coming Soon

Forms
 

BEI Resources is prioritizing and fast tracking all SARS-CoV-2 registrations and orders.  We anticipate a 12-72 hour turn-around time for all SARS-CoV-2 related registrations and a 24-48 hour turn-around time on approved orders.  Please indicate SARS-CoV-2 in your scope of use in your registration paperwork.  Please contact BEI Resources at contact@beiresources.org for questions.

BEI Resources is working to accession strains of the 2019 novel coronavirus, recently named SARS-CoV-2, identified as the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. We understand how important it is to share virus strains and derivatives with researchers; please contact us if you have suggestions for expanding our catalog offerings.

BEI Resources is currently in process of accessioning the SARS-CoV-2, England VUI-202012/01 strain (NR-54000). Please click the link to provide request information on the isolate.

BEI Resources anticipates the accessioning of the South African SARS-CoV-2 isolates (NR-54008, hCoV-19/South Africa/KRISP-EC-K005321/2020 and NR-54009, hCoV-19/South Africa/KRISP-K005325/2020) in January. Please click on the links above for more information on each isolate.

We anticipate a large number of requests from the research community for these reagents, and we cannot guarantee how quickly stock will become available. Please continue checking for updates.

If you wish to transfer SARS-CoV-2 materials, please use the guidance provided in the Emergency Use Simple Letter Agreement.

The BEI Resources catalog offers additional coronavirus materials ready and available for distribution to qualified laboratories.

For access to BEI Resources full catalog, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Is there currently a shortage or delay in receiving SARS-CoV-2 virus isolates or RNA from BEI Resources?
2. How long will it take to get SARS-CoV-2 materials?
3. How long will it take to process my registration to receive SARS-CoV-2 materials?
4. Who is qualified to receive SARS-CoV-2 materials?
5. What level of registration do I need to receive SARS-CoV-2 materials?
6. If I have questions regarding SARS-CoV-2 materials, who do I contact?
7. How much do SARS-CoV-2 materials cost?
8. What is the Emergency Use Simple Letter Agreement (EUSLA)?
9. Which SARS-CoV-2 materials distributed by BEI fall under the EUSLA?
10. Can I transfer SARS-CoV-2 materials?
11. Can I commercialize SARS COV-2 materials?
12. Are COVID-19 patient samples currently available from BEI Resources?
13. How do I obtain test kits for COVID-19?
14. Why is the SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA only distributed to facilities which have BSL-2 laboratories?
15. Am I required to obtain a CDC permit for the transfer of SARS-CoV-2 isolates?
16. Where do I find product documentation (Product Sheet, Certificate of Analyses, etc.) for BEI Resources products?
17. How do I find out about SARS-CoV-2 products coming soon?

Question: Is there currently a shortage or delay in receiving SARS-CoV-2 virus isolates or RNA from BEI Resources?

Answer: No, BEI Resources currently does not have a shortage or a delay in shipping virus and RNA to qualified laboratories. We understand how important it is to share virus strains and derivatives with researchers, especially during an outbreak.

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Question: How long will it take to get SARS-CoV-2 materials?

Answer: BEI Resources is prioritizing all SARS-CoV-2 shipments.  Shipments are generally being made within 24-48 hours of completed requests.  If permits are required, these timelines are dependent on obtaining those permits.  Please contact us at contact@beiresources.org for any shipment questions.

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Question: How long will it take to process my registration to receive SARS-CoV-2 materials?

Answer: BEI Resources is prioritizing and fast tracking all SARS-CoV-2 registrations.  We anticipate a 12-72 hour turn-around time for all SARS-CoV-2 related registrations.  Please indicate SARS-CoV-2 in your scope of use.  Please contact BEI Resources at contact@beiresources.org for questions.

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Question: Who is qualified to receive SARS-CoV-2 materials?

Answer: Registration with BEI Resources is required to request SARS-CoV-2 materials. BEI Resources reagents are shared with registered individuals and organizations doing research on Emerging Infections and other relevant areas of interest related to Microbiology. To register you must be affiliated with a public, private, academic, non-profit or for-profit institution. Registrants must demonstrate they work in an established institution with facilities and safety programs appropriate for the Level of registration requested.

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Question: What level of registration do I need to receive SARS-CoV-2 materials?

Answer: Each product on the BEI Resources website lists a BEI Resources level of registration.  Interested researchers will need to ensure they are registered at the appropriate level to receive materials.  Please click here for registration instructions.  If you need to upgrade your registration to a higher level, please click here for instructions.

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Question: If I have questions regarding SARS-CoV-2 materials, who do I contact?

Answer: Please contact BEI Resources at contact@beiresources.org for any questions regarding SARS-CoV-2 materials.

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Question: How much do SARS-CoV-2 materials cost?

Answer: All BEI Resources reagents, including SARS-CoV-2 materials, are provided world-wide at no cost. While there is no cost for the reagents themselves, additional shipping and handling charges may apply and will display in the shopping cart if applicable.

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Question: What is the Emergency Use Simple Letter Agreement (EUSLA)?

Answer: The Emergency Use Simple Letter Agreement outlines the terms in which SARS-CoV-2 materials are being provided.  In light of the emergence of the novel coronavirus, 2019-SARS-CoV-2, and urgent need to mitigate the pathogen’s spread, the EUSLA was instituted for the provision of these materials under the terms outlined in the agreement. The EUSLA is not negotiable.

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Question: Which SARS-CoV-2 materials distributed by BEI fall under the EUSLA?

Answer: The viruses, nucleic acids, and inactivated SARS-CoV-2 organisms, along with the gamma irradiated NHP convalescent serum from SARS-CoV-2, are distributed under the terms of the EUSLA. Please note that the signature of the biosafety officer to certify that your facility can safely handle the material is required for receipt of the virus. The following is a list of items distributed by BEI under the EUSLA:

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Question: Can I transfer SARS-CoV-2 materials?

Answer: “Material” as used in this answer, means the original material or any unmodified progeny received from BEI Resources. SARS-CoV-2 materials received under the EUSLA may be further distributed to other entities for legitimate purposes required to rapidly prevent, detect, prepare for, and respond to, the spread or transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and under terms no more restrictive than the Emergency Use Simple Letter Agreement (EUSLA). To ensure compliance with this, copies of the EUSLA or MTAs recording all further transfers must be sent back to contact@beiresources.org. This requirement must also be incorporated for further transfers. The recipient and provider agree to transfer, use, manage, and control the SARS-CoV-2 materials in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. When these commodities, technology or software are exported from the United States, the recipient agrees to comply with the Export Administration Regulations. Diversion contrary to U.S. law is prohibited.

Any products made by you, that are not considered the original material or unmodified progeny, are excluded from this requirement, and you are free to share and commercialize those products as your own products.

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Question: Can I commercialize SARS COV-2 materials? 

Answer: “Material” as used in this answer, means the original material or any unmodified progeny received from BEI Resources. SARS-CoV-2 materials received under the EUSLA are made available for any legitimate purpose, including commercial purposes, as long as they are to rapidly prevent, detect, prepare for, and respond to, the spread or transmission of the 2019 SARS-CoV-2. Any transfer of the original material or any unmodified progeny must be done under the terms of the EUSLA (see question above regarding transfer of SARS-CoV-2 materials). Any products made by you, that are not considered the original material or unmodified progeny, are excluded from this requirement, and you are free to share and commercialize those products as your own products.

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Question: Are COVID-19 patient samples currently available from BEI Resources?

Answer: We understand how important it is to share patient samples, including sera, nasal swabs and PBMCs, with researchers, especially during an outbreak. We will have a very limited number of samples available. Requestors must limit their orders to 5 samples of serum/plasma. We anticipate a large number of requests from the research community for patient samples related to the pandemic, and will continually work towards making more samples available. Please order according to the limits above and contact our email box at contact@beiresources.org with any questions. If we are not able to fill your needs, please contact us so we can forward your request to NIAID to prioritize those samples once available.

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Question: How do I obtain test kits for COVID-19?

Answer: Test kits are not distributed through BEI Resources. The CDC 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel was developed for qualified domestic public health laboratories to detect SARS-CoV-2. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) on February 4, 2020, to enable emergency use of the test kit in the United States. CDC has produced EUA and Research Use Only (RUO) test kits that are now available to order by domestic and international public health partners through IRR (www.internationalreagentresource.org). Please contact the International Reagent Resources program for more information – contact@internationalreagentresource.org.

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Question: Why is the SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA only distributed to facilities which have BSL-2 laboratories?

Answer: CDC guidelines state that molecular analysis of extracted nucleic acid preparations should be performed in BSL-2 facility using standard BSL-2 work practices. The CDC guidelines can be found in the following link: https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20210119223503/https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/lab/lab-biosafety-guidelines.html

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Question: Am I required to obtain a CDC permit for the transfer of SARS-CoV-2 isolates? 

Answer: The BEI Resources website provides a link on each product detail page for applicable permits. Please check the individual product detail pages for this information. SARS-CoV-2 isolates which originate from the United States do not require a CDC permit for domestic transfer. SARS-CoV-2 isolates which are deposited into BEI Resources outside of the USA, will be brought into the repository under a CDC permit, and will require a CDC permit for transfer.

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Question: Where do I find product documentation (Product Sheet, Certificate of Analyses, etc.) for BEI Resources products?

Answer: All Product Sheets and Certificates of Analysis can be found on the BEI Resources website. Perform a search for the product, and you will find the documentation. Any product listed as requiring a BSL-3 facility, will require login first to view the documentation. Only BEI Level 3 registrants will have access to view and download products requiring BSL-3 facilities.

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Question: How do I find out about SARS-CoV-2 products coming soon?

Answer: BEI Resources will list the status of SARS-CoV-2 products coming soon in the table above titled Coming Soon and Expected Availability.

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Forms

Emergency Use Simple Letter Agreement (EUSLA)

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