It detects infection in 4 minutes with high accuracy.. Scientists are developing a test for corona

Chinese scientists said they have developed a new test to detect infection with the Corona virus, which is as accurate as the "BCR" test, but gives results within four minutes.

BCR tests are the most accurate and sensitive to detect the virus that causes Covid-19, but the result of the test takes hours.

Some countries have witnessed a significant growth in the volume of demand for corona tests, due to the massive spread of the Omicron mutant, which is rapidly transmitted.

Researchers from Fudan University in Shanghai say they have a solution.

In an article that was scientifically reviewed by similar bodies, and published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering on Monday, the team said that the sensor, which uses microelectronics to analyze genetic material from swabs, could reduce the need for time-consuming laboratory tests to detect Covid. .

The team added in the research paper: "We used an electromechanical biosensor to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and showed that it detected the RNA of the virus in less than four minutes."

The researchers said their method offers speed and ease of operation, as well as high accuracy and portability.

Their experiment included obtaining samples from 33 people in Shanghai who had contracted the Corona virus, with PCR tests.

The results of their method matched and "perfect" with the BCR tests, according to the article.

Their study also included testing the new method on 54 samples, which included people with fever and not infected with the Corona virus, and with influenza, and healthy volunteers.

The team said that these cases did not produce any false positive results.

The Fudan researchers added that once their test device is developed, it can be used to perform rapid testing in a variety of situations, including airports, health facilities and "even at home."

BCR testing is not only slow, but also requires laboratory infrastructure that may be limited in many countries, which reduces the number of treatable cases each day.

With rapid diagnostic tests available in many parts of the world, they are generally less accurate.

China is one of the largest producers of coronavirus infection detection kits in the world.

Customs data says that China exported $1.6 billion worth of test kits last December, an increase of 144 percent from the previous month.

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