SINGAPORE, July 24 (Xinhua) -- A rapid antibody test kit for COVID-19 was reported Friday to be successfully developed in Singapore, which can produce results in 15 minutes.
The test kit was jointly developed by MP Biomedicals Asia Pacific Pte Ltd., a diagnostic corporation and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, a statutory board under the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore, according to a joint press release.
Known as ASSURE, the test kit detects IgG and IgM antibodies which are produced by the human immune system to combat COVID-19. Studies have shown that levels of IgG and IgM appear to be correlated with the severity of COVID-19, thus they are good biomarkers for confirming positive or past infection.
Aligned with the current recommendation by the World Health Organization, rapid serology tests including ASSURE should not be used in the clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 infections or in the evaluation of persons with acute respiratory symptoms, especially within the first 14 days of illness. This is to avoid giving patients false reassurance that they do not have the infection, arising from a negative result, according to the press release.
However, it can help to determine whether an individual has been previously exposed to the virus and generated antibodies as a result. This can help identify asymptomatic individuals or those with only mild symptoms who were not subjected to RT-PCR testing, it added.
The new rapid antibody test kit was evaluated by the National University Hospital's Department of Laboratory Medicine, and demonstrated good results for both serum and whole blood. The test kit has been granted Provisional Authorization by the Health Sciences Authority for its intended use in Singapore, said the press release. Enditem
