Focus Taiwan
Date: 03/11/2020
By: Kuan Jui-pin and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, March 11 (CNA) Rapid screening kits being developed by Taiwan's National Health

Research Institute (NHRI) for the coronavirus disease COVID-19 could be available for use by medical personnel by the end of the year, the institute's president said Wednesday.

The NHRI is currently testing the virus identification capacity of the antibodies that were selected for the development of COVID-19 rapid screening kits, Liang Kung-yee (梁賡義) said, noting that the testing is expected to be completed by March 31.

The next steps will be to conduct technology transfers to companies and undertake clinical trials with human tissue samples, Liang said.

It is assessed that the rapid screening kit developed by the NHRI could be available for use before the end of the year, he added.    [FULL  STORY]