[Live Voice] Xing Wanli, Executive Deputy Director of Beijing National Engineering Research Center for Biochips
One chip can measure two samples. There are two small holes here. When adding samples, sample A is added to this hole, and sample B is added to the upper hole. After adding the cap, you can put it in the instrument. This step can be completed in less than a minute.
[Explanation] On October 19, China's first mobile laboratory for nucleic acid detection of new coronaviruses carried by light buses was officially delivered to the People's Hospital of Zhuhai, Guangdong Province.
And this small chip is the key to the laboratory.
On October 20, the reporter learned when visiting the Beijing National Engineering Research Center for Biochips that the laboratory relies on the fully integrated laboratory-on-a-chip system independently developed, which can greatly increase the nucleic acid detection rate and reduce the risk of infection for operators.
[Concurrent] Xing Wanli, Executive Deputy Director of Beijing National Engineering Research Center for Biochips
After the sample is added, this step of sample processing and the amplification reaction are also automatically completed on the chip, and the result is that we can see it in real time on the computer. The line flies, then it means that the positive is present.
The whole process is about three times faster than the commonly used PCR (polymerase chain reaction) system.
The fluxes we are now equipped with, low flux and medium flux, can meet the detection of 500 to 2000 samples in a day.
The sensitivity of the detection of COVID-19 can reach 150 copies/ml, which is already the world's leading level.
[Explanation] Previously, other new coronavirus mobile testing laboratories used in China were mostly carried by large trucks or buses, and the testing equipment was not light enough, and manual operations such as nucleic acid extraction were required.
In comparison, the laboratory is equipped with a fully automatic portable integrated new coronavirus nucleic acid detection system that can achieve flexible, accurate and efficient detection in cross-regions and multiple scenarios.
[Concurrent] Xing Wanli, Executive Deputy Director of Beijing National Engineering Research Center for Biochips
It is very mobile and flexible, with a length of only 6 meters.
It also comes with a generator that can work continuously for 8 hours.
There are only two people operating in the car. The robot is equipped with a robot that will automatically sample. This avoids unnecessary (virus) transmission and reduces the risk of infection. We can use it in communities, automobiles, and high-speed trains. And ports like airplanes.
[Explanation] At present, China's domestic epidemic prevention and control has become normal, but the epidemic prevention work cannot be slackened. Doing a good job in nucleic acid testing is a key part of epidemic prevention.
[Concurrent] Xing Wanli, Executive Deputy Director of Beijing National Engineering Research Center for Biochips
It can be vividly compared to a "light cavalry" that we fight against the epidemic, and it serves as an outpost.
For example, when a close-knit crowd appears in a certain community, and if he is asked to go to the hospital for testing, there may be a risk of transmission during the flow.
Then we can let our portable mobile laboratory go to the community quickly, and the result will come out in 45 minutes, so that we can quickly know what the next prevention and control measures should be.
The car is also equipped with a 5G communication system, which can directly report the results to relevant departments, thus avoiding some situations such as under-reporting, under-reporting, and late reporting.
[Explanation] It is reported that in order to meet the needs of different groups of people, the laboratory has added a manual detection window.
In the future, the laboratory will be delivered to some domestic provinces and cities, and plans to provide assistance in the international fight against the epidemic.
[Concurrent] Xing Wanli, Executive Deputy Director of Beijing National Engineering Research Center for Biochips
Later, we will continue to deliver to places such as Qingdao, Shenyang, etc., in terms of detection throughput, including detection speed, and detection sensitivity, we will continue to further improve.
(Currently) we have received many consultation calls in the international market, and will soon be exported to foreign countries to make due contributions to the international epidemic prevention and control.
Lang Jiahui reports from Beijing
Editor in charge: [Li Yuxin]