Researchers at Kogene Biotech Co. conduct tests on its reagent at its laboratory in Seoul on Feb. 5, 2020. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, April 26 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea has developed a new molecular diagnosis technology that can detect not only COVID-19 but also other future viruses in a rapid and accurate manner.
The National Research Foundation of Korea said Monday that researchers at Konkuk University had succeeded in developing a molecular diagnosis procedure that can detect COVID-19 and other variable viruses at the same time using isothermal nucleic acid amplification technology.
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based molecular diagnosis method that features a high accuracy rate can be carried out only by medical institutions furnished with specific equipment as the testing procedure is relatively complicated.
In addition, it takes some time from sample collection to test result readout, thereby making it difficult to respond quickly.
Accordingly, the research team developed a new isothermal nucleic acid amplification technology that can rapidly detect COVID-19 and bacteria within 30 minutes at a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius.
The newly-developed technology can identify the existence and type of virus without the need to adjust temperature before the reaction starts.
The application of clinical samples by Chonnam National University Hospital’s research team showed that it achieved a high sensitivity of 96.7 percent and a specificity of 100 percent for coronavirus.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
