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Taiwan's National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) and National Defense Medical Center on Wednesday jointly revealed a prototype of a rapid diagnostic test for the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The test works by placing a fluid sample from the patient's upper respiratory tract onto a test strip, and if two lines appear, it means the patient has SARS-CoV-2, the strain of coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 disease. One line indicates a negative result.
The test results show up in about 15 minutes, said Liao Ching-len, director of the NHRI's Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology.
The rapid screening test uses a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) antibody, which has proven effective in detecting SARS-CoV-2, he said.
According to Liao, the antibody has been reactive to SARS-CoV-2 viruses developed in three different labs, but does not react to other viruses that cause the common cold or strains of the Influenza A virus, such as H1N1. This means flu patients will not be misdiagnosed with COVID-19, he said.
The rapid screening test is meant to supplement, not replace, the nucleic acid tests (NAT), the current COVID-19 testing method that detects the genetic material of a microorganism, Liao said.
The test works by placing a fluid sample from the patient's upper respiratory tract onto a test strip, and if two lines appear, it means the patient has SARS-CoV-2, the strain of coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 disease. One line indicates a negative result.
The test results show up in about 15 minutes, said Liao Ching-len, director of the NHRI's Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology.
The rapid screening test uses a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) antibody, which has proven effective in detecting SARS-CoV-2, he said.
According to Liao, the antibody has been reactive to SARS-CoV-2 viruses developed in three different labs, but does not react to other viruses that cause the common cold or strains of the Influenza A virus, such as H1N1. This means flu patients will not be misdiagnosed with COVID-19, he said.
The rapid screening test is meant to supplement, not replace, the nucleic acid tests (NAT), the current COVID-19 testing method that detects the genetic material of a microorganism, Liao said.
The prototype of the new test was unveiled at a meeting with 22 manufacturers, one of which will be chosen by the NHRI to further develop and mass produce the rapid screening test.
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