CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- A Charlottesville-based company is leading the way in the fight against COVID. The biotech company, AMPEL BioSolutions, says it created a test capable of predicting which patients may experience severe cases of the virus.

"CovGENE, the blood test, is something every doctor in America could order for their patients," said Dr. Amrie Grammer, co-founder and president of AMPEL BioSolutions.
 
It's a breakthrough in the fight against COVID.

AMPEL BioSolutions created what it says is a test that will detect and predict whether a patient may experience severe COVID.

"We have a platform technology to predict the right drug for the right patient at the right time," said Grammer.

CovGENE, the new test, was administered to a group of 145 people and repeatedly researched by top medical experts at the University of Virginia.

The company says the test has a more than 90 percent rate of accuracy.

"So, we're very encouraged this test could be used in the clinic," said Dr. Peter Lipsky, CEO of AMPEL BioSolutions.

The test is administered by drawing a COVID patient's blood.

"The bottom line is, from a blood sample one can predict if someone may immerge with severe COVID, which is very timely in 2022. COVID is the number three cause of death for three years in a row," said Grammer.

"Vulnerable people, especially older people, the death rate from COVID-19 is still substantial," said Lipsky.

Even more promising, the company claims the blood test could predict long COVID, an elusive diagnosis the medical community is still trying to fully understand.

"We hope that this work can make a small difference and save some lives. At the end of the day, science is wonderful, but it’s much better when it has a positive impact and really makes a difference," said Lipsky.

AMPEL BioSolutions is currently working to secure a partnership with a diagnostic testing company to make CovGENE available to the general public.