ASELSAN develops new diagnostic system against Covid-19 viruses
The microelectronic optics-based virus diagnosis system, which was rapidly developed and patent applications were made at the end of the study initiated by ASELSAN after the Kovid-19 outbreak, has reached the clinical test stage.
According to the information obtained by the AA reporter, with the emergence of the Kovid-19 outbreak, a device development study was initiated at the ASELSAN Research Center with the knowledge obtained within the scope of research for the detection of chemical and biological threats to be used in the detection of Kovid-19.
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 ensures that the virus, whose structure is intact, is detected by the antibodies in the cartridge that work in harmony with the key and lock on an optical basis.
ASELSAN made patent applications for the critical components of the system.
With this system, it is aimed to detect viruses that show symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections such as Kovid-19 and influenza simultaneously on a single cassette. During the system tests, studies were carried out with antigens, inactive and active viruses and successful results were obtained.
It is aimed to achieve a 99 percent test accuracy rate for the virus diagnosis system.
The system is at the ethical committee approval stage for hospital tests. Studies with patient samples will start soon.
ASELSAN, primarily to meet the needs of Turkey, then aim to export.
Quick solution against the epidemic
Didem Lale Özkan, Lead Engineer from the ASELSAN Research Center Directorate's Biodefense Research Programs Unit, gave information to the AA reporter about their work on the virus diagnosis system and the current stage.
Reminding that the company has been trying to meet the needs of the country with domestic and national solutions for the defense industry in many different fields for 45 years, Özkan said that the epidemic period revealed that domestic and national solutions were needed in the field of health and that fast solutions should be produced.
Özkan pointed out that they focused on the virus diagnosis system with their knowledge on the detection of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) threats, "We have developed a domestic and national system with the work of our own engineers. We detect the Kovid-19 virus with this system based on microelectronic optics." said.
It will be a fixture of hospitals
Expressing 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 make 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.
Özkan noted that after the hospital clinical tests are completed, the production process of the device will start and it will take its place in hospitals.
Pinpoint disease detection from similar symptoms
Didem Lale Özkan said that while developing the system, they cooperate with the local ecosystem, as in all their work, and get support by using the infrastructure of universities and laboratories.
Emphasizing that the system will contribute to the easy distinction of diseases with similar symptoms, Özkan gave the following information:
"We think that the system can be an important milestone in this regard. Currently, the symptoms of both Covid-19 and influenza viruses are similar. At this point, our physicians are trying to diagnose by performing multiple tests if necessary. With the device we have developed, we detect all kinds of diseases that we have determined according to the needs of the hospital with a single sample. able. So the point we have a chance to shoot. Costs are offering the opportunity to start much faster diagnosis and treatment with effective solutions. Ethics committee approval process ongoing prototype our system, Turkey Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency in the next step (TİTCK) will be submitted for approval. Hospital clinical tests After it is completed in the next months, the mass production phase will begin. "
Can be used for different diseases
Expressing that the samples taken from the patient are ready for analysis in about 2 hours and they continue to work to shorten this period, Özkan stated that the analysis result can be taken in the order of minutes.
Özkan stated that the main unit of the developed device will not be changed.
ASELSAN tarafından Kovid-19 salgını sonrasında başlatılan çalışma sonunda hızla geliştirilen ve patent başvuruları yapılan mikroelektronik optik tabanlı virüs tanı sistemi, klinik test aşamasına geldi. - Anadolu Ajansı
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