New portable kit to detect Covid-19
The device is capable of detecting other viruses such as influenza through the test called Nirvana
A group of scientists designed a portable rapid test capable of detecting the presence of Covid-19 and other variants such as the spread of SARS-CoV-2, as reported in an article published in the group’s medical journal Cell.
The easy portability kit could be used for the rapid detection of viruses in schools, airports or seaports, according to the information provided by those responsible. According to Juan Carlos Izpisúa Belmonte, co-author of the article and researcher at the Genetic Expression Laboratory of the Salk Institute (California). “It is a detection and surveillance method that does not require expensive infrastructure like other approaches.”
“We quickly realized that we could use this technique not only to detect SARS-CoV-2, but also other viruses at the same time,” said Mo Li, one of the creators of the test named Nirvana, signed and endorsed by the San Antonio de Murcia Catholic University (southeast of Spain).
The small device has 96 samples for the detection and sequencing of RPA genes (recombinase polymerase amplification). However, if the test is performed on a patient who has symptoms similar to Covid-19 and his result is negative, another test must be performed because the device does not detect what could be causing the symptoms.
Thus, if it tests positive, it is not known with which variant the patient is infected, unless other tests are performed.
K.Villarroel
Source: noticiasncc
