South Korean firm develops kit that can diagnose coronavirus in 10 minutes

A South Korean company has developed a faster test kit to diagnose cases of coronavirus.

PCL, the company which provides diagnostic products, named the tester COVID-19 Ag GICA Rapid.

Kim So-yeon, the company’s chief executive officer, was quoted as saying that the kit was developed using antibodies from China.

He said the test can check nasal discharge for the presence of the virus within 10 minutes with an accuracy rate of around 85 percent.

So-yeon said the antigen diagnostic kit would be a complementary measure for a quick test.

“People infected with COVID 19 can spread the virus even at its earliest stage and at very mild symptoms, so the kit is a complementary test,” he said.

The company said the test kit can be used at home to reduce trauma and stress.

Globally, over 252,000 coronavirus cases have been recorded globally.

The number of death toll has hit the 10,000 mark.