SARS CoV-2 Detection Kit  Pandemic Condition ​

The world was under pressure from the novel COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019. The infection was first reported in 2019 and has since spread throughout the world including Indonesia. In the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, besides the vast territory, Indonesia was also challenged with limited laboratory infrastructure and capacity for COVID-19 diagnosis. The lack of test reagents and consumables further exacerbated the situation. This condition made the IVD team move to innovate in contributing to overcoming the pandemic COVID-19. ​

Our Contribution​

Starting in early 2020, the IVD-SCI team developed a kit based on the RT LAMP (Reverse Transcription Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification) method that can specifically detect nucleic acids which are the genetic material of the SARS CoV-2 virus that causes the COVID-19 pandemic. LAMP method will amplifies DNA with high specificity, efficiency and rapidity under isothermal conditions. The amplification process can be done with heating machines such as water bath, so that the process does not require special instruments such as real-time PCR machines which are relatively expensive. ​

The kit we developed to diagnose the presence of the SARS CoV-2 virus is also enough to use saliva, so it provides more comfort and convenience compared to kits that use samples from the nasopharynx and/or oropharynx. Not only does it provide convenience in the inspection process, the kit we developed also has good accuracy performance with a sensitivity value of 94% and specificity of 98%. The kit was assisted by PT. KalGen DNA as IVD manufacturer to be produced and registered at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia with AKD number 20303120508 and produced under the name ELVA DIAGNOSTIC SARS CoV-2 Saliva Nucleic Acid Test Kit. ​