Arab News Japan

As Japan continues to battle the spread of the infectious coronavirus disease, Canon Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Medical) have announced the start of the development of a rapid genetic testing system for the COVID-19 reaffirming the company’s commitment to the basic research and development of rapid diagnostic test kits.

This project is part of a research program focusing on the development of diagnostic methods for COVID-19 led by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED).

Canon Medical was selected to participate in this research program in cooperation with Nagasaki University.

The test and the reagents developed for COVID-19 RNA testing is based on the LAMP method. It is used with a compact isothermal amplified gene fluorescent detector manufactured by Canon Medical to detect the presence of virus.

Compared to the conventional test method of real-time PCR, the LAMP method allows for detection of the virus to be performed more easily and quickly, which makes it suitable for testing in local areas where infection is prevalent.