Prof. Dr. Kosum Chansiri, and her team from Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand, has developed a rapid DNA Strip Test kit for COVID-19
The current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has had an enormous impact on society worldwide, threatening the lives and livelihoods of many. SARS-CoV-2 is a virus of species severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARSr-CoV). It is believed to have zoonotic origins and has close genetic similarity to bat coronaviruses. SARS-CoV-2 is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus, that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the respiratory illness responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. In January 2020, there was an official report, an outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan. It is caused by a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and it is transmitted from human-to-human. The transmission was initially assumed to occur primarily via respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes. In Thailand, the COVID-19 outbreak found a significant increase in the number of cases in mid-March 2020, the largest group of the outbreak occurred during a Thai boxing match at the Lumpinee boxing stadium. The COVID-19 outbreak causing the economy of Thailand to be affected hard especially the tourism sector is important. Therefore, the rapid development of a diagnosis for the SAR-CoV-2 virus is necessary.
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New Rapid DNA Strip Test Kit for COVID-19
Prof. Dr. Kosum Chansiri, and her team from Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand, has developed a DNA test kit for COVID-19 in collaboration with Institute for Urban Disease Control and Rrevention, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. The “Rapid DNA Strip Test for COVID-19” is based on the lateral flow dipstick (LFD) combined with the viral genetic material amplification method, Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), using specific primers and DNA probe which can be accomplished within 90 mins. Specificity of the test has been examined against various viruses such as dengue virus, influenza A and B virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) without any cross reaction. The limit of detection is as less as 10 picograms which is corresponded to 3.83 copies/ml. The “Rapid DNA Strip Test for COVID-19” is suitable for on-site screening and early detection of COVID-19 in the pandemic area. The “Rapid DNA Strip Test for COVID-19” project was granted by Srinakharinwirot University during April-June 2020. The test has occupied petty patent application number 2003002904 from the Department of Intellectual Property, Ministry of Commerce, Thailand.
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