ESET to support development of a Coronavirus PCR test in Slovakia, donates the first 100,000 samples

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https://www.eset.com/sk/o-nas/press-centrum/eset-tlacove-spravy/nadacia-eset-podporila-vyvoj-slovenskeho-testu-na-koronavirus-a-financuje-prvych-100-000-kusov/

Machine translation:

Scientists from Slovak companies MultiplexDX, Lambda Life and ProScience Tech have joined forces with virologists from the Biomedical Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (BMC SAV) to build a reagent kit according to the World Health Organization (WHO) protocol for reliable detection of SARS-CoV-2. In the first phase they plan to produce and make available 100,000 PCR tests. The ESET Foundation supported the development of the test and finances the first 100,000 pieces to be offered as a gift to the Slovak Republic.

Key components have been developed and manufactured by MultiplexDX, a company dedicated to developing and manufacturing innovative reagents for various molecular diagnostic methods. The Slovak PCR test is currently being validated in cooperation with a team of scientists from the BMC SAS. Preliminary results show not only the functionality but also the good sensitivity of the new test, comparable to the currently used diagnostics. “This means that our test is reliable and accurate and can help diagnose early-stage patients. We can produce key components for 100,000 PCR tests in two weeks, ”explains Pavol Čekan, founder of MultiplexDX.

“In the process of validation and subsequent registration of the resulting report we cooperate with the non-profit organization CCCT SK. It will be estimated to take about three weeks, ”said Adam Andráško of ProScience Tech. "Virus detection consists of sample collection, RNA isolation and PCR diagnostics itself, with our joint efforts focused on the last step," said Ivan Juráš of Lambda Life. “I believe that the efforts of our scientists will be crowned with success, and we will have enough PCR tests from our own resources as important as coronavirus detection. This will help Slovakia not only in continuous testing, but we will also create a reserve in case there is a shortage of tests in the world, ”notes Robert Mistrík from the permanent crisis staff.

The ESET Foundation supported the development of the test and provided funding for the first 100,000 units from the COVID-19 Effective Diagnosis and Prevention Fund. These tests will be offered as a gift to Slovak state institutions. “When creating the Fund, it was important for us to ensure effective mass-scale diagnostics, which can only be achieved through science. Even in such a critical situation, the importance of supporting science in Slovakia, which we have been dedicated to for a long time, thus proves important, ”says Richard Marko, CEO of ESET.

Production capacities will primarily be available to diagnostic laboratories in Slovakia after the first 100,000 tests have been used. “We are ready to cooperate with state laboratories, flexibly respond to their needs and supply them efficiently. After meeting the needs of Slovak Laboratories, we can direct our capacities to other countries that would need our products, ”explains the authors of the test.

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