Toyobo develops test kit to detect coronavirus within 1 hour

Abbott has the 5 minute molecular test out, and Cellex has a 15 minute serological test out. So far these are the fastest.

Fast and inaccurate doesn't help. Only the old, 4-6 hr, send-to-the-CDC-for-processing test is 97% accurate, assuming good samples can be collected. All the others shouldn't be on any market. Those are like going to a fortune teller - 30-80% accurate.

The FDA needs to start forbidding the use of any tests less than 80% accurate in 30 days and set a clear timeline for 90% accurate tests (perhaps 60 days), 95%, 98%, 99%.

Good, accurate, data makes for the best decisions. Inaccurate data is often worse than no data at all.

There's also that new saliva test just cleared by the FDA

"New saliva test for coronavirus could be game changer, limits exposure to workers"

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/04/14/coronavirus-new-saliva-test-less-invasive/2987776001/

3,100,387 Americans have been tested ~ How many Japanese?

Abbott has the 5 minute molecular test out, and Cellex has a 15 minute serological test out. So far these are the fastest.

At home testing is not covered by the FDA and they have gone out of their way warning consumers that home tests are unauthorized by them.

As for any tests accuracy rates... We'll probably know months from now, being that they are basically being rushed out the doors to get people tested now.

Question, what's the accuracy rate?

That's great and all but I believe the states has already developed on that can get results in 10-15 minutes. Why not use those

Because those test do not detect the virus.

By now it should be very clear the difference, tests that detect directly the virus take some time to be done, but they become positive much sooner (in many cases even before the symptoms appear). On the other hand tests that detect antibodies are quick to do, but for those antibodies to appear it needs much longer time, from 4 to 7 days after the symptoms first appear.

So you have a test that can be done very quickly but needs you to be sick and very contagious for long time, or a test that takes some time but that can give you a positive result on time for a much more beneficial isolation. Also, obviously the antibody test will remain positive even if you recover.

@expat

900¥ is the material.

There is surely a multiplier to apply to get the cost of the test done and result obtained...

Accuracy for the test?

How easy can samples be gathered correctly?

Won’t matter for Japan. Japan is suppressing testing to report lower numbers so these tests would just be wasted here. Better to just export it.

Seems like a terrible business decision. Total tests conducted in Japan are 63,000 (as of 4/13), just over three days worth of capacity. That means there are likely hundreds of thousands of unused testing kits out there. Toyobo is simply adding new supply to an already oversupplied market where there is little demand (i.e. little actual testing conducted).

I'm trying to figure out why raise the capacity to do something that you are not doing to begin with? It is a struggle to get tested for sick people. Even when they show all symptoms in a bad way. Thankfully I am feeling a lot better today. But when you don't know what you have and all other tests came back negative, it is scary. Especially when you are quarantined in a freezing outside makeshift tent during your hospitalization.

As always, South Korea is leagues ahead

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13294398

Good for them. They stand to make billions off it via the J-Inc business channels.

But that's only if the government is happy to see the mortality rate come waaaaaay down. It's not as scary if that happens...

Japan; miles behind again. As usual.

It seems faster result of testing may cause false result.

@MarkX; I stand corrected. What was I thinking. I have to agree with you. I forgot, money and power is more important than the lives of the average human being in Japan.

Developing test kits for faster results are always good but I don’t think the hospitals / authorities will invest by purchasing these widely. Most are still using the old 24 - 48 hours testing system even though faster result test kits are already available in Japan.

I think our only hope is someone to make a test that can be administered at home, like a pregnancy test, with a simple + or -. That way consumers can purchase their own, and find out for themselves. If we rely on the government, they will never allow mass testing and this virus will continue for a long time.

since1981, you really think they would use a test made by someone else? Never in a million years. It will be made in Nippon or bust.

That's great and all but I believe the states has already developed on that can get results in 10-15 minutes. Why not use those?

"We would like to contribute to curbing the new pneumonia-causing infection by supporting research institutes," a Toyobo official said.

Right, for a hefty profit as well, quit with the philanthropic sounding BS.

The testing kits will be available for researchers at universities, pharmaceutical companies and other institutions across the country for 90,000 yen and includes 100 tests per kit, according to Toyobo.