Focus Taiwan
Date: 06/01/2020
By: Chen Wei-ting and Chiang Yi-ching

Taipei, June 1 (CNA) Two Taiwanese research institutes said Monday that they are likely to have a rapid diagnostic test for the COVID-19 coronavirus ready for the market by the end of the year.

A prototype of the test, which was unveiled in early April, produces results within 10-15 minutes and has a 70 percent accuracy rate, according to the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI), which is developing the test in collaboration with the National Defense Medical Center.

The test is carried out by placing a fluid sample from the patient's upper respiratory tract onto a test strip, and if two lines appear, it means the patient has SARS-CoV-2, the strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19, while one line indicates a negative result, the NHRI said.

The NHRI said it has already transferred the test technology to five domestic manufacturers, who will further develop the rapid diagnostic test so they can mass produce it.
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