A patent for innovation has been filed and researchers are looking for
Sydney:
Australian researchers have developed a test that can determine a new coronavirus infection in about 20 minutes using blood samples in what they say is a world first.
Monash University researchers said their test can determine whether a person is currently infected and has been infected in the past.
“Short-term applications include rapid case identification and contact tracing to limit viral spread, while population screening to determine the extent of viral infection across communities is a need to more long term, “the researchers said in an article published in the journal ACS Sensors on Friday.
The research team was led by BioPRIA and the Department of Chemical Engineering at Monash University, including researchers from the ARC Center of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nanotechnology Science and Technology (CBNS).
Their test, using 25 microliters of plasma from blood samples, looks for agglutination, or a grouping of red blood cells, that the coronavirus causes.
Although the current swab test is used to identify people infected with the coronavirus, the agglutination test – or analysis to detect the presence and amount of a substance in the blood – can also determine whether a person has been recently infected once the infection is resolved. , they said.
Hundreds of samples can be tested every hour, the researchers said, and they hope it can also be used to detect raised antibodies in response to vaccination to aid clinical trials.
A patent for innovation has been filed and researchers are seeking commercial and government support to increase production.
The new coronavirus has infected more than 13.8 million people worldwide and killed nearly 600,000 since its appearance in China late last year. Australia has reported more than 11,000 cases and 116 deaths.
(This story has not been edited by GalacticGaming staff and is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
