SINGAPORE: A Singapore-based medical technology firm has developed a rapid test kit for Covid-19 that will be able to detect the disease in less than 10 minutes, with the first batch expected to be available by next month, todayonline reported.
The test kits — developed by Biolidics Limited — can detect Covid-19 with an accuracy of more than 95 per cent using serum, plasma or whole blood samples.
In a press release on Monday (March 30), the company said that it had obtained provisional authorisation from the Health Sciences Authority for the test kits to be used in Singapore.
Biolidics added that it had been working with healthcare company Clearbridge Health to obtain the relevant approval and authorisation from the various health authorities in the region for the use of the rapid test kit.
Once the relevant approvals have been obtained, Biolidics expects the test kits to be used in the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Hong Kong.
What makes the kit different
Biolidics said in a press release that its rapid test kit is easy to use and can enable more effective and efficient decentralised screening among suspected Covid-19 patients.
“Currently, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is used to confirm patients with Covid-19 but it is a laboratory technique and requires laboratory specialists and dedicated medical testing equipment. Hence, PCR testing for Covid-19 generally requires at least three hours to obtain the test results,” Biolidics said. –todayonline
