Illumina, Helix track spread of more contagious coronavirus variant January 11, 2021 Auto Bot Diagnostics, Illumina, SARS-CoV-2 0 The two companies are working together to detect instances of the more contagious B.1.1.7 variant in the U.S. After Colorado identified the first case in the U.S. on Dec. 28, more than 60 cases have since been found across the country.