BioPorto Diagnostics and University of Southern Denmark (SDU) develops COVID-19 test for early detection of infected patients to improve patient outcome and epidemic control.

In this collaboration, Associate Professor Jonas Heilskov Graversen and Associate Professor Yaseelan Palarasah from SDU are leading the development of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies which will be introduced on BioPorto’s technology Generic Rapid Assay Device platform (gRAD), for direct Point of Care detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles in less than 10 minutes based on a simple sample from saliva or a pharyngeal swab, the collaborators state.

“We are using newly developed methods for viral handling and draw on the large expertise in generation of monoclonal antibodies generated over many years. With this we develop antibodies that selectively recognizes antigens on the virus surface and shows on BioPorto’s gRAD strip,” says Jonas Heilskov Graversen, Head of Inflammation at Department of Molecular Medicine.

This approach offers a method for early diagnosis of COVID-19 patients, which can help medical facilities such as doctors’ offices, hospitals, laboratories, and health centres make fast diagnosis, so that appropriate precautions and treatment can immediately be implemented to improve patient outcome and epidemic control.

Available within the 2nd half of 2020

Collaborations with national and international hospitals have already been established for immediate access to human sample testing. An approved version of the test kit is available within the 2nd half of 2020.

”As the Corona Virus spreads in a short period of time and since a significant number of patients are infected by somebody who has the virus but does not yet have symptoms, time is essential in the fight to beat the Corona Virus worldwide. Therefore, the availability of a quick and easy to use Corona Virus test will be an important tool in this battle,” says Jan Kuhlmann, BioPorto Diagnostics COO.