The Munich startup, a spin-off from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munichhas developed a new rapid coronavirus test. It is based on the PCR method, which detects the pathogen's genetic material. This makes the method significantly more reliable than the currently widely used rapid antigen tests. According to GNA Biosolutions, the rapid test achieves a sensitivity of 96.7 percent and a specificity of 100 percent, which is on par with standard PCR tests. “GNA Octea” It only takes about 40 minutes from the throat swab to the test result, with 20 minutes for the throat swabs and preparation time and another 20 minutes for the actual test in the device.
The development also includes portable testing devices that can evaluate up to eight samples simultaneously. This allows for a large number of rapid tests to be performed within a shorter period of time. As a mobile laboratory, the entire device requires only the space of a table and can be used anywhere without the need to transport the samples to a laboratory, as is the case with conventional PCR tests. This means that a test should cost less than 20 euros. The development of the test was commissioned by Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters) in April and received eight million euros in funding.
Federico Bürsgens, CEO of GNA Biosolutions, explains:
"We are proud to have developed a testing system within just a few months that meets the highest standards. Our process is effective even with small amounts of virus. This allows us to combine reliability with speed at a comparatively low price. By awarding us the contract in April, the Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs gave us the opportunity to bring our process to market readiness in a timely manner."
Back to normality thanks to GNA Biosolutions?
Hubert Aiwanger adds:
"The new rapid test will help us contain the pandemic and specifically minimize infection risks. Especially from an economic perspective, it is an urgent concern that we provide sufficient rapid and reliable testing capacities to enable a return to more normality. Alongside our FFP2 masks made in Bavaria with German DEKRA certification, this rapid test from the Bavarian biotech industry is another major success in our work over the past few months to combat the coronavirus."
The Bavarian state government plans to test the usability of the testing procedure in several practical trials starting in mid-January. These will take place in Bavarian hospitals and other facilities such as slaughterhouses. For this purpose, the state government has ordered six of the new devices and 60,000 test kits. In addition, Bavaria has secured a purchase right for 1,000 devices and one million individual tests.
