CEBU CITY –– A healthcare company in the Philippines on Thursday announced it could detect whether or not someone is infected with the novel coronavirus disease or COVID-19 within three hours.
DNA Holdings Corporation said early detection outpaces the current detection system used in the Philippines, which requires 14 days of quarantine and two days for confirmation of results.
The company’s detection-and-containment system said the first part requires a swab of DNA from a suspected COVID-19 carrier to check for any genetic similarities that match with a confirmed COVID-19 sample, which can be done in the country.
“Using DNA gives us a more accurate way to detect if someone is infected with the virus. We would see results more immediately, which lessens the possibility of that person getting hospital-acquired infections from a long quarantine,” said DNA Chief Information Officer and Medical Director, Dr. KC Halili in a press statement.
She added that early detection and subsequent containment are key when dealing with pandemics, especially given how quickly the new coronavirus is spreading.
As of Thursday, there are nearly 80,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide.
Containment
DNA Holdings also emphasized the importance of containment should a patient be confirmed to carry COVID-19.
The DNA nCorV system includes confinement in a complete isolation room system that can be installed for an existing two-patient room.
The containment room is equipped with a machine that disinfects the air of airborne pathogens and an ante-room, which prevents contamination from doctors, nurses, and med techs moving between the rooms.
“This kind of system helps keep the virus from spreading when people move from room to room,” said DNA Holdings President and chief executive officer Robert van Zwieten.
“It becomes a matter of national security so containing the virus and keeping them from spreading is of utmost importance,” he added.
Ready
The system is ready to be delivered to hospitals but has yet to be adopted by the Department of Health.
DNA is hoping for quick adoption to reduce the rate at which COVID-19 is infecting people.
“For the virus to stop, we need to quarantine those who already have it. With a large population in congested metro cities, it’s easier for the virus to spread,” Halili said.
DNA Holdings is also developing a faster one-step test kit that will give results within 15 minutes. It hopes to finish and produce it in time to prevent the further spread of the virus.
The company is also eyeing the production and distribution of improved N95 grade masks in the Philippines to help solve the low supply of masks.
These masks will have a treated second layer that is bactericidal against pathogens.
“Stopping the spread to a new live host (humans) will lead to the eradication of the virus. With no live human host, the virus dies. If we don’t act fast enough, the virus might mutate further, and begin to thrive in hot weather instead of dying off. The fatality rate may eventually rise.”