The State-run
has created a molecular test for the diagnosis of coronavirus (COVID-19) that provides results in less than an hour and is less expensive, the
INS Chief Cesar Cabezas congratulated the researcher and indicated that —since the pandemic began— the institution has been proposing innovations in science and technology to rely on Peruvian proposals in order to solve public health problems.
"It is research and science at the service of the Peruvian population's health," he expressed.
INS geneticist biologist Eduardo Juscamayta —who is the creator of the molecular test proposal— explained that it will be developed and validated with the RT-LAMP method that allows detection and a high number of copies of the virus genome's specific region.
Juscamayta indicated that the investigation will last three months and constitutes a great contribution from the INS, since it will allow to visually, accurately and quickly identify SARS-CoV 2 (COVID-19) infections at primary care health centers, with minimal lab conditions.
"As it is a portable test, easy to use, it does not need highly specialized personnel and will be very useful for the personalized management of each patient," he stressed.
The proposed molecular test works fast at a constant temperature compared to other molecular tests, which require various temperatures. It does not require complex or expensive equipment and can be conducted in a simple thermoblock or in a water bath, said the researcher.
“It has a high sensitivity, greater than other molecular methods, so this test has the potential to diagnose not only suspected COVID-19 patients, but also asymptomatic patients who usually have a low viral load (…)," he concluded.