The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) announced on Feb. 11 that it has developed a fully automated, rapid, multi-diagnostic system that can detect 30 to 40 pathogens involved in respiratory infections within an hour, including the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
According to a press release by PolyU, the technology consists of a fully automated machine with a multiplex full-screening panel for the point-of-care genetic testing (POCT) of respiratory infectious disease. The system can test 30 to 40 kinds of pathogens in one test within an hour, including seasonal influenza viruses (such as H1, H2 and H3 influenza A), avian flu (H5 and H7 and H9), respiratory syncytial virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS, SARS-CoV), the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and COVID-19.
