Scientists announced the first 100% Italian test, capable of diagnosing the new coronavirus in 1 hour – allowing a reduction in response time, which is currently 6 to 7 hours.
Developed in six weeks, tested and produced in Italy, the test was produced at the renowned Policlinico San Matteo foundation, a reference structure for the teaching center of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Pavia (founded in 1.361).
Around 50 researchers were involved in the research for the test, which is signed by DiaSorin, genuine italian company, world leader in the diagnostics and laboratory market.
Certification of the rapid molecular test is expected within two weeks, even before the rapid serological tests announced by China, but which have not obtained validity and safety certification.
In Italy, around 500 samples can be produced per day, at a cost of less than 5 euros each (around R$28).
According to information published by the newspaper Corriere della Sera, this Tuesday (07), the automated test will soon be submitted to the FDA, the US drug regulatory agency, through a simplified procedure, typical of emergency situations.
How works
As in a common blood test, a drop of blood is inserted into the device capable of putting it in contact with the synthetic protein built in the laboratory, using a particle of the Sars-Cov-2 virus. The automated kit checks the connection between the protein and the neutralizing antibody – the one that prevents the viral particle from replicating in the human cell – and highlights it using a light signal.
The prototype was tested in the San Matteo virology laboratory, in Pavia, using (anonymous) blood samples from 150 hospitalized patients at various stages of the disease: intensive care, infectious diseases, discharged and cured.
The experiment vitro made it possible to identify the amount of antibodies produced by the body and, above all, those that will protect it in the future, that is, neutralizers.
How many of these 22 thousand Italians considered cured to date, because they had a second negative test, developed immunity? Based on the results of experiments carried out in the Pavia virology laboratory, led by Fausto Baldanti, it is possible to know only the serological test, which is evaluated as extremely reliable and can be used for the epidemiological study of an entire population, since it can be carried out at all sampling points.
But how long does this immunity last? It will be understood by repeating the tests after months or years, says the university professor and virologist.
Revealing the asymptomatic
The second phase of screening concerns the millions of citizens who contracted Covid-19 but were never tested because they were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms.
In these individuals, the test detects the total amount of antibodies (which are produced in different amounts between 7 and 14 days after contracting the disease).
If “killer” antibodies are present, this allows these people to be considered immune, but does not rule out (with current knowledge) their potential infectivity, which can only be verified with two nasal tests.
One strategy, however, is not applicable to large numbers due to a worldwide shortage of reagents.
The realistically viable solution would be to avoid the second final test in individuals who were negative in the first, together with a high presence of neutralizing antibodies.
These are people who are well, but would be advised to stay at home for 7 days.
If, on the other hand, they return to work, in the same prudent way and always for a week, it will be necessary to ensure that masks are mandatory and social distancing is maintained.
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