Israeli biotechnology firm BATM Advanced Technologies has developed a rapid diagnostic kit that can be used to determine fairly accurately whether or not someone is infected with COVID-19, more commonly known as coronavirus.
The kit allows the laboratory to detect the virus within 25 minutes. They will be manufactured in Rome, where the Israeli company maintains a branch. In cooperation with academic and scientific institutions in Europe, the goal is to keep the kit as cheap as possible in order to facilitate rapid mass production.
BATM had previously developed diagnostic kits for SARS and MERS. The company’s experts believe coronavirus, like is predecessors, will weaken and its spread will halt as the weather gets warmer toward the end of April. And that will give BATM an opportunity to develop ways to more quickly and efficiently diagnose outbreaks should the virus return later in the year.