COVID-19 '15-Minute Diagnostic Kit' Released

Check COVID-19 Infection Visually in 15 Minutes
Stick-Type Test Kit Shows "Two Red Lines Indicate Infection"
Ministry of Science and ICT & Ministry of the Interior Vow Full Effort for Commercialization Within the Year

If two red lines appear on the COVID antigen test kit, infection can be visually confirmed.

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] A rapid diagnostic technology has been developed that can visually confirm the presence of a novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) within 15 minutes, similar to a pregnancy test kit. It is expected to contribute to preventing the spread of COVID-19 by allowing immediate confirmation of infection status on-site.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on the 30th that Dr. Hongki Kim's research team at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology developed a rapid antigen diagnostic technology by producing various antibodies that bind to coronavirus antigens and utilizing them.

Diagnosing COVID-19 Within 15 Minutes

The research team developed a kit that quickly diagnoses infection by utilizing the binding reaction between the COVID-19 protein antigen and the immune protein antibody that attacks it. The team analyzed the genetic sequence of the coronavirus and created an antigen from the protein that encloses the genetic material. This antigen was injected into animals to produce antibodies that bind to it. Through this process, they discovered more than 10 antibodies that specifically bind to the antigen protein.

The usage is simple. Medical personnel can confirm infection by absorbing a specimen sample collected from a patient onto a sample pad. If viral antigens are present in the sample, they bind with antibodies containing color-developing nanoparticles, producing a red color. The diagnostic kit takes only 15 minutes to confirm the presence of the antigen. In contrast, the existing reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, which detects viral genes, takes about 6 hours.

Commercialization Targeted Within the Year

This diagnostic kit is expected to be commercialized within the year. The research team held a technology transfer ceremony for the antibodies and rapid diagnostic technology developed this time on the 27th.

Beomtae Kim, head of the CEVI Convergence Research Group at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, said, "We were able to achieve early results based on the capabilities accumulated through convergence research so far," and added, "We will strive to commercialize the necessary technologies early for producing a high-sensitivity COVID-19 antigen rapid diagnostic kit together with the technology transfer company."

The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety emphasized, "To ensure the safety of the public from COVID-19, we will not only rapidly develop this antigen rapid diagnostic technology but also other necessary technologies by fully utilizing Korea's scientific and technological capabilities. At the same time, we will actively cooperate with related organizations such as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to ensure that the developed technologies are quickly applied on-site."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.