ASELSAN Developed a Coronavirus Diagnostic Kit

ASELSAN Developed a Coronavirus Diagnostic Kit ASELSAN has developed a coronavirus diagnostic kit. The system works based on microelectronics optics. Following the emergence of the coronavirus epidemic, a device development study that could detect the coronavirus was initiated at the ASELSAN Research Center with the information within the framework of research for the detection of chemical and biological threats. According to the information given, the system based on antibody-based digital detection detects by optical method using lenses. Samples taken from patients are incubated on disposable cassettes. The cartridge containing the sample taken from the patient is analyzed with artificial intelligence software and the result is reported. The virus diagnosis system makes it possible to detect the intact virus by the antibodies in the cartridge that work in harmony with the key and lock on an optical basis. Thanks to this system, it is aimed to detect viruses that cause upper respiratory tract infections such as coronavirus (Covid-19) and influenza simultaneously on a single cassette. During the system tests, it was informed that studies were carried out with antigens, inactive and active viruses and the results were successful. It is aimed to achieve a 99 percent test accuracy rate for the virus diagnosis system. The system stands at the ethics committee approval stage for hospital tests. It is said that studies with patient samples will begin soon. ASELSAN considering to meet the needs of Turkey at first, then plans to export. Didem Lale Özkan, Lead Engineer from the Biodefense Research Programs Unit of ASELSAN Research Center, gave some information on the subject. Stating that the approved tests have been completed in Yeditepe University and TÜBİTAK Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) Laboratory, Özkan said: “We are part of the YÖK CBRN team. We are in contact with our universities in this sense. We are continuing to work so that our device will soon take its place in hospitals. Our device is an optical-based system, productized for the first time in the world. We can make multiple diagnoses. We can analyze a single swab sample with more than one disease. It is an 'in vitro' system. By changing the disposable cassettes in our device, we can design an application for the detection of an unlimited number of diseases. I can say that we have developed a device that can turn into a fixture in hospitals, not only specific to SARS Cov2.”