New rapid PCR test developed in Hungary

A new rapid PCR test developed in Hungary can yield results in only two hours, significantly reducing waiting times when diagnosing people with coronavirus infection, a deputy rector of the Semmelweis University said on Tuesday.

Speaking on public Kossuth Radio, Attila Szabó said the test speeds up the procedure by showing the presence of the virus without having to extract its RNA from the sample first, a step earlier tests could not circumvent.

The rapid tests are reliable and “it is up to the manufacturer” now to scale up production, Szabó said.

A single-step RT-PCR test was developed to detect SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus by a Hungarian-owned molecular diagnostic company, Omixon Biocomputing Ltd., whose product called AzureSeq was provided with a European Conformity CE (Conformité Européenne) mark. Omixon Biocomputing Ltd. is also present at the international market. As it is emphasized in the announcement of the company, a revolutionary new laboratory procedure was applied in the detection of the viral RNS, therefore its extraction from the sample is not necessary as a first step.

“The classical PCR test is based on the detection of viral RNS from the sample. The detection of RNS is a time-consuming, expensive procedure that requires several hours, a reagent and also an expert researcher who is taking care of this particular step. In addition to this, the companies producing reagents are often not capable of delivering the required amount as well as in a timely manner. Therefore, there is a great need for a test where the viral RNS does not have to be detected but the detection can be accomplished directly from the extracted sample”,

said Dr. Barna Vásárhelyi, Director of the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Semmelweis University.

As Dr. Vásárhelyi pointed out, the newly developed, single-step, direct RT-PCR test was tried out and the results of the test were completely in line with the results provided by the classical PCR tests.

According to Dr. Béla Merkely, rector, the testing conducted by this recent, Hungarian-developed test provides a more rapid result, it engages the capacity of fewer specialists and is probably more cost-efficient, hence Semmelweis University will use this in an increasing number in the future.

The Hungarian company developed its product AzureSeq in cooperation with SeqOnce Biosciences, a Californian company, and it possesses exclusive distribution rights in Europe, the Middle-East and Africa.

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Source: MTI/Semmelweis

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