Developed by a research team from Khalifa University

A portable device to check "Corona" within 45 minutes

The device can be used to conduct checks for 9 people at one time.

Khalifa University announced the success of a research team from the university in developing a mobile device for examining "Covid-19", the size of a smartphone, and can be transferred from one place to another easily, and is characterized by its effectiveness and speed in obtaining the result within 45 minutes.

The university explained that the examination device is characterized by its simplicity, as it detects the virus from the swab taken from the person to be examined directly, and the change in the color of the sample indicates the result, as pink indicates a negative result, while yellow indicates a positive result.

The project was supervised by Dr. Anas Al-Azzam, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and a member of the Micro Systems Center, with the participation of the Director of the Khalifa University of Biotechnology and Associate Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Dr. Habiba Al-Saffar.

The team also included doctoral researchers Dr. Waqas Wahid and Dr. Suwaida Silan, as well as co-researcher Hussain Knut.

The innovative device is currently undergoing medical verification.

The “BCR” examination is considered the gold standard in virus detection, because of its accuracy, but there is a difficulty in using it. The team used thermal symmetry (isothermal) technology, which is fast, effective and accurate detection of the Corona virus (Covid-19) .

This technique is considered faster than its traditional counterparts, as it uses a primer that focuses on two regions of the genetic material in the virus.

Most BCR methods depend on thermal cycling, through which the reactants are subjected to repeated cycles, including high and low temperatures, to initiate the transcription process.

The PCR examination requires a programmed thermal recycling device, while the isothermal technique can be applied with a simple thermal device that allows the test to be carried out anywhere for ease of transportation.

After the end of the pandemic, the innovative device will continue to provide the benefit by using it to detect any virus, as the isothermal method doubles the RNA to prepare it for examination and detection of viruses (influenza, for example).

It is mentioned that it is possible to produce the necessary primer to quickly monitor the causative agent of the infection, once the viral sequence is identified. When a new virus appears, the "BCR" device developed by Khalifa University researchers can detect its presence, knowing that the device can be used by more than nine people in One time.

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