The current trend in the Czech Republic is to test as many people as possible, the daily maximum was so far 23,228 samples. Can capacities be further increased?
Yes, the radical solutions we are developing are saliva tests. We want to prepare sampling sets so that they are accessible for self-collection. The person gets a test tube with a muzzle, spits into it, discards the muzzle and hands over the screwed-on test tube.
–
Roman Prymula promised saliva tests at the beginning of October. When will yours be available?
We hope very soon. From the laboratory point of view, we have everything done, now we are focusing on the last part. Today, there are no sampling sets usable for simple automation, but we already have their prototypes and are preparing their production. We anticipate that within four weeks we will be able to produce tens of thousands of test kits per month, and later millions. Hospitals using our current automation will be able to quickly switch to saliva testing.
–
Today, laboratories are tested exclusively from nasopharyngeal swabs, will the transformation to saliva tests not be difficult?
Technologically, the transformation is simple. You just replace the sampling set, the rest is the same, the PCR method is used in the same way as for nasopharyngeal swabs. The important question is whether saliva as such is sensitive enough. Abroad, saliva tests are already in use, in the US such sampling kits are already approved and some universities use them to screen students. They are not yet available in the Czech Republic, but by the time we have sampling kits available, we are going to test about a thousand people in pairs, so we will be able to accurately determine the sensitivity of the tests.
–
Today there is a lot of pressure on speed, clients want to know as soon as possible whether they are positive or not. How long will it take to be able to report the result?
The analysis itself takes up to two hours after loading the samples. The most limiting factor is the administration, receipt and processing of samples. As for collection points, you often wait a long time for them to take you. Self-sampling tests from saliva would address this factor. In addition, some laboratories addressed the lack of various consumables needed to perform the test. Everything is included in our set, you don’t have to look for anything.
–
Are you also developing multiplex testing that suddenly detects a coronavirus and perhaps an influenza virus? Such tests will be needed in the winter.
Multiplex tests are nothing new, we are currently focusing on the detection of a new coronavirus. We will also add flu to our multiplex during the fall. Influenza and covid are the most important respiratory diseases, but the truth is that you can be tested for about fifteen to twenty other respiratory diseases that you can catch. But you won’t find out that much from one test.
–
Are you in contact with government teams to deal with a coronavirus pandemic?
By winning the Hackathon competition in June, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš visited us. But closer coordination is not yet taking place.
—
