A Chinese university has announced a coronavirus detection kit that can identify infections of the deadly illness in just 15 minutes, according to a report.
The kit — called Novel Coronavirus IgM/IgG — was developed by Nankai University in Tianjin in cooperation with experts from other schools and biopharmaceutical companies in the country, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
A fast test card included in the kit can detect the virus, known as COVID-19, in only 15 minutes, allowing fast on-site screening of people suspected of having the illness, Xinhua reported, citing a statement by the university.
As of Monday morning, the virus has killed more than 1,700 people — the vast majority in China’s Hubei province — and infected more than 71,000 around the world.
Last week, the country’s Ministry of Science and Technology sought ideas for research projects on rapid test kits, saying that nucleic acid detection reagents used so far take too long.
Nankai University said its test kit is expected to soon be employed in epidemic prevention and control.