The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    South Korea speeds up full-fledged deployment of US anti-missile battery

  • 3

    Kakao seeks to bolster SM's global presence as new owner

  • 5

    ANALYSISTesla, BYD's price cuts unnerve LGES, Samsung, SK

  • 7

    4 young Nigerian siblings killed in house fire in Ansan

  • 9

    Apple Pay service limited by lack of NFC terminals

  • 11

    SK chief's estranged wife sues his new partner for compensation

  • 13

    Busan aims to win hearts of developing nations in Expo 2030 bid

  • 15

    Bank failures and rescue test Yellen's decades of experience

  • 17

    From mines to mobility: 140-year-old partnership between Germany and Korea

  • 19

    Unrest on the Island of World Peace in 1903

  • 2

    Lee Sun-kyun, Lee Ha-nee reunite in new rom-com 'Killing Romance'

  • 4

    INTERVIEWHow ATEEZ achieved worldwide success

  • 6

    Actor Yoo Ah-in appears for questioning over alleged drug use

  • 8

    Firstborns account for record-high 63% of newborns

  • 10

    Foreign minister hosts Iftar dinner for Muslims in Korea

  • 12

    Chun Doo-hwan's grandson to apologize to victims of Gwangju massacre

  • 14

    Korean police search for 2 Kazakhstanis who fled airport

  • 16

    Samsung chief inspects production plants in China for first time in 3 years

  • 18

    Yoo Ah-in appears before police over alleged use of illegal drugs

  • 20

    Cook praises China's innovation, long history of cooperation on China visit

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Tue, March 28, 2023 | 11:51
Health & Science
New detection kits to speed up coronavirus diagnosis
Posted : 2020-02-11 16:13
Updated : 2020-02-11 18:58
Ko Dong-hwan
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
A patient solves a Rubik's cube at a temporary hospital in Wuhan, in central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 10. Xinhua-Yonhap
A patient solves a Rubik's cube at a temporary hospital in Wuhan, in central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 10. Xinhua-Yonhap

By Ko Dong-hwan

As the country reels from the fallout from the novel coronavirus that has killed more than 1,000 people in China, local biotech firms have rolled out new detection kits that drastically reduce infection confirmation times.

The kits cut the time taken to diagnose the virus ― which originated in Wuhan, Hubei Province ― from a day to around an hour in some cases, using a reagent and special diagnostic devices.

The breakthrough is expected to improve on-site detection precision and help patients be treated quickly.

Genetic technology solutions provider SolGent has developed the Diaplex Q Novel Coronavirus Detection Kit. The firm applied to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) for approval of the device that can detect the disease within two hours.

"The KCDC requested supplementary data from us so we submitted it yesterday," SolGent's co-CEO You Jae-hyung told The Korea Times on Feb. 11. "The authority will test it later this week and tell us the decision next week."

Once approved, the detection kit will be used by some 50 private hospitals and medical researchers nationwide designated by the KCDC.

Genematrix recently completed clinical tests of its kit, Neoplex RV Panel-B, on 3,000 cases and applied for KCDC and Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approval. It can detect nine respiratory viruses including coronavirus, enterovirus, rhinovirus, bocavirus and parainfluenza.

Kogene Biotech's PowerChek 2019-nCoV Realtime PCR coronavirus detection kit was approved by the KCDC for local use earlier this month. The kit, the first to be approved by the authority, can detect the virus within six hours, according to Chosun Biz.

Ahram Biosystems and Doknip Biopharm teamed up for an even faster detection kit. On Feb. 9, they signed a memorandum of understanding for the production and sale of the 2019-nCoV Fast POCT System. It is awaiting the authority's approval.

The portable, rechargeable battery-powered device can scan for the disease in 30 minutes, according to NEWSIS.

Molecular detection technology has been developed to the level of it being feasible for point-of-care testing, Ahram CEO Hwang Hyun-jin was quoted as saying.

"The shortage of detection equipment for coronavirus has been weighing down on medical staff, calling for prompt diagnosis and follow-up treatments," Doknip CEO Jeong Tae-gi said.

Korea has had 28 people confirmed with coronavirus as of Tuesday. Four have recovered and left hospital.


Emailaoshima11@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1[ANALYSIS] Tesla, BYD's price cuts unnerve LGES, Samsung, SK ANALYSISTesla, BYD's price cuts unnerve LGES, Samsung, SK
2Yoo Ah-in appears before police over alleged use of illegal drugs Yoo Ah-in appears before police over alleged use of illegal drugs
3US aircraft carrier to visit Busan amid NK provocationsUS aircraft carrier to visit Busan amid NK provocations
4Korean crypto investors want Do Kwon punished in US Korean crypto investors want Do Kwon punished in US
5Families of foreign construction workers can receive retirement pay: court Families of foreign construction workers can receive retirement pay: court
6Indonesian investment minister promotes EV cooperation with Korea Indonesian investment minister promotes EV cooperation with Korea
7Nongshim plans to build plant in eastern US region Nongshim plans to build plant in eastern US region
8Gimpo-China flights recover to pre-pandemic levels Gimpo-China flights recover to pre-pandemic levels
9Right-wing Japanese support Seoul-Tokyo ties: Korean envoy to Japan Right-wing Japanese support Seoul-Tokyo ties: Korean envoy to Japan
10Local bank stocks hit by shockwaves from SVB, CS collapses Local bank stocks hit by shockwaves from SVB, CS collapses
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Lee Sun-kyun, Lee Ha-nee reunite in new rom-com 'Killing Romance' Lee Sun-kyun, Lee Ha-nee reunite in new rom-com 'Killing Romance'
2[INTERVIEW] How ATEEZ achieved worldwide success INTERVIEWHow ATEEZ achieved worldwide success
3Will April releases revive Korean cinema? Films to look out for in April Will April releases revive Korean cinema? Films to look out for in April
4Dreams come true: TXT mesmerizes 21,000 fans at KSPO Dome Dreams come true: TXT mesmerizes 21,000 fans at KSPO Dome
5'My ID is Gangnam Beauty' to be adapted into live action series in Thailand 'My ID is Gangnam Beauty' to be adapted into live action series in Thailand
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group