Fast, Reliable, Low-Cost Covid-19 Diagnostic Protocol
The University of Azuay -in conjunction with the University of Cuenca and the Catholic University- is working on a novel study for the implementation of a new detection protocol for patients with coronavirus.
The advantages of this new protocol, called RT-LAMP, are several, indicates Rodrigo Caroca, professor and researcher at the Faculty of Science and Technology.
For starters, the price is cheaper than RT-PCR, the standard test today.
In addition, the RT-LAMP technique is faster at the time of yielding results and does not require as much expertise on the part of the operator, since it only consists of a color change in a test tube. Nor is expensive equipment required.
"I have been involved in each of the stages of the research," says Caroca, who first formed the research team with two other researchers from the other participating universities, and then selected the samples, kits and supplies necessary to carry out the study.
The difficulties that the researchers went through were several, they had many complications when obtaining the materials to carry out the method because imports were delayed due to the pandemic.
"We bought a product that was supposed to arrive in three weeks and finally ended up arriving in two months," explains the interviewee.
Another drawback was that the kits needed for the research arrived defective, which greatly delayed the project.
On the other hand, the researchers have not had access to a large number of samples to make an initial diagnosis, since there was no support from public institutions from which collaboration was requested for the development of this project, despite having carried out and complied with all the necessary protocols in the request that was made.
It is important to note that this group of researchers works hard to develop protocols that allow to minimize dependence on the purchase and import of inputs from foreign companies, thus seeking to further reduce the cost of each reaction that is made.
UDA Correspondent
