Engineers working at ODTÜ Teknokent have developed a Covid-19 PCR diagnostic kit that was found to be 97% reliable, and its practical use and quick setup have generated strong demand.
The “n-FasT” diagnostic kit provides a diagnosis within 15 minutes for patients with high viral load and detects low viral loads with high reliability.
What Do the Statements Say?
Yunus Emre Deli, a board member of Nanografi Nano Teknoloji A.Ş., a subsidiary of Ahlatcı Holding that developed the n-FasT diagnostic kit, explained that while preventive vaccination efforts continue against the global Covid-19 pandemic, more practical methods are being pursued to identify new cases, and this kit enables rapid detection.
Developed by a company operating in ODTÜ Teknokent, the “n-FasT” diagnostic kit demonstrated 97% accuracy in independent clinical tests. Reported to have the highest accuracy among the tests evaluated, n-FasT received approval from the Ministry of Health General Directorate of Public Health. After obtaining the necessary sales authorizations from the Turkish Medical Device Authority, the kit began to be used domestically and internationally.
Advantages of Using the Kit
Deli shared information about the kit produced with contributions from Turkish engineers: “Unlike traditional PCR diagnostic tests and kits, this one requires a simpler preparation. With a 30-minute incubation period, it will be highly useful at entrances, at the patient bedside, and in busy emergency situations during screening by healthcare workers. Its practicality addresses our need for rapid diagnosis. Replacing PCR tests that take up to 1 hour 30 minutes in screening centers, this kit can deliver results in 15 minutes. Low viral loads can also be detected with a high degree of reliability.”
The test’s ability to deliver results in 15 minutes and its production using PCR-based LAMP technology mark a new development in the fight against Covid-19. After 30 minutes the test completes its reaction to detect low viral loads, placing it among the fastest PCR kits available. It was also reported that production costs are significantly lower than comparable projects.
Will It Be Sold?
The preference for this domestically developed kit is explained by its fast and practical preparation and setup in high-demand areas. Requests for use have come from many regions, from Africa to the Americas. As an IVD-standard product, the kit can be exported, and planned sales have begun targeting Central Asian republics, African countries, and states in the Americas.
The achievements of Turkish-origin engineers with both the kit and vaccine efforts have been well received internationally. The kit will be used primarily in countries with large populations to accelerate diagnosis and enable faster progress in vaccination campaigns. High demand from the African continent has been emphasized.
Can It Be Used at the Doorstep?
The kit provides comfort not only for healthcare workers but also for patients, reducing anxiety and allowing for at-home testing when needed. It can be administered at the doorstep for citizens who suspect they may carry the virus. After quick setup, results for the person tested at their address can be provided within 15 to 30 minutes.
Before its market release it was announced that the test has no side effects on patients and an accuracy rate of 97%. With the introduction of this kit, models that previously provided initial data within 1 hour 30 minutes have now been supplemented by faster options.