The test will work like a standard pregnancy test.

“The production will be based at KFU, and this is partly linked to the fact that we are already working on a COVID-19 vaccine and research COVID-related immunology,” explains Albert Rizvanov, Director of the Center for Precision and Regenerative Medicine.

Naturally, despite being compared to pregnancy tests, this particular system will test blood and not urine. After a few minutes, indicator stripes will signal whether the tested individual has coronavirus antibodies.

“This cannot be called an early diagnostic system. The thing is, antibodies appear 5 to 7 days after the infection event. The coronavirus infection goes with symptoms for 5 days on average. That is to say, if a person visits the hospital with cold symptoms, it means that sufficient time has passed for antibodies to manifest.

“Both IgM and IgG antibodies will be tested. We expect that this can increase the sensitivity and information value of the system. The equipment should be delivered in 3 – 4 weeks, and the logistics is currently discussed. In a month, a test production line will be opened, and two more weeks are needed to polish the methodology, after which the new system can be registered and used at the University Clinic. The research tests will use the blood of coronavirus patients.

“After that, a registration certificate will be obtained, and we will be able to officially use the tests in clinical diagnostics. If all goes well, we can have the system on our hands in two months. Our objective is to cover the needs of Tatarstan and then the whole of Russia. The system doesn’t replace the more sensitive PCR tests, but complements them in helping to direct a patient with characteristic symptoms,” resumes Rizvanov.

Previously, a similar test was proposed by KFU for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

Source text: Rufina Gimaletdinova

Photos: Alexander Kuznetsov

Translation: Yury Nurmeev