Production of a test system for diagnosing coronavirus, created by Vitebsk scientists, has begun

Vitebsk scientists have developed a test system for diagnosing coronavirus and on Tuesday, after trials and obtaining permission from the Ministry of Health, they began its production. This refers to specialists from the Vitebsk State Medical University, who are working under contract at SIVital LLC. This research and production enterprise, part of the Polymerkonstruktsiya group of companies, established a laboratory 10 years ago and launched the production of "testers" for the detection of cancer, hepatitis B, C, D, and other viruses. In the difficult circumstances of the pandemic, by order of the Head of State, a well-prepared scientific group developed a test system in less than a month that diagnoses COVID-19 within an hour and a half.

…The laboratories and production facilities are sterile. Even the air and water are supplied here after special treatment. The scientific supervisor of the group, Valery Semenov, head of the Department of Infectious Diseases of VSMU, recalls that the team of eight people involved in the development of the coronavirus "tester" sometimes worked 18 hours a day:

— We relied on molecular genetic research. For testing, it is necessary to convert the virus's RNA into DNA. All test systems work on this principle. To ensure that the "tester" is sensitive, specific, and does not produce erroneous results, it is important to correctly select the part of the virus that has mutated and is characteristic of this particular strain, like fingerprints for a specific person. After analyzing the databases, we coped with the task. Trials and obtaining permission are no less responsible procedures. After all, the testing and approbation of the test system were carried out, including with infected patients. We are grateful to the Ministry of Health for their assistance in organizing the trials.

 

 

The finished test system is a small sealed package made of special foil that does not let ultraviolet rays through. It contains, as demonstrated by Viktor Gorbachev, an assistant at the Department of Infectious Diseases of VSMU, four plastic tubes with reagents:

— In the first, there is water where the patient's biological material (nasal swab, nasopharyngeal swab) is placed. In the second, there is the main mixture, which makes it clear that the coronavirus nucleic acid is present in the patient's biological sample. The third contains enzymes and substrates necessary for the reaction to occur. One of the main enzymes is placed separately in the fourth tube.

 

The reaction takes place in an amplifier. Such devices are available in every regional center and in many district centers. It can simultaneously analyze up to 96 samples. A beam analyzer scans the prepared mixture, and the result is displayed on a computer monitor. The test has a triple self-monitoring system, so errors are excluded.

This week, according to Sergey Ivanov, head of the Polymerkonstruktsiya group of companies, SIVital is ready to produce three thousand test systems:

— In the future, we will increase the volume to 10,000 per week. Tests are needed everywhere now. The first batches will be sent to the Vitebsk and Mogilev regions. In matters of supply, we will heed the recommendations of the Ministry of Health.

 

 

The cost of testing using the Vitebsk test system will be 12 rubles. According to information Sergey Ivanov found in the public domain, this is currently one of the cheapest offers in the world:

— The cost of individual tests in Kazakhstan reached up to 100 dollars, and in China – up to 55. There is no information on the cost of mass testing in other countries. As for our "tester", with increased production and optimal supplier selection, it could become even more affordable.