Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) officially handed over the technology for the Covid-19 detection device through the exhalation, named GeNose, to the Ministry of Research and Technology/BRIN on Thursday (24/9).
This Covid-19 detection device developed by UGM researchers can detect the new coronavirus in the human body quickly. It takes no less than 2 minutes for the test results to be known whether they are positive or negative for Covid-19.
“Previously it took about 3 minutes, yesterday during the test at BIN it was able to drop to 80 seconds, so it’s even faster,” said a member of the GeNose research team, Kuwat Triyono, at the GeNose Public Expose: Covid-19 Detection Technology at the BJ Habibie Building, 24th floor, Jakarta.
In addition to being fast in detecting and having high accuracy, the use of this tool is much more affordable than the PCR swab test. One unit of GeNose, estimated to cost Rp. 40 million, can be used for 100 thousand examinations.
“For now, the optimum production capacity is around 50 thousand units per month,” he said.
Another GeNose researcher, Dian Kesumapramudya Nurputra, explained that GeNose works to detect Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) formed due to the Covid-19 infection that comes out with the breath through exhalation into a special bag. Furthermore, it is identified through sensors whose data will then be processed with the help of artificial intelligence (Artificial Intelligence).
GeNose has gone through a profiling test using 600 valid data samples at the Bhayangkara Hospital and the Bambanglipuro Covid Special Field Hospital in Yogyakarta. The results show a high level of accuracy, which is 97 percent. After going through the first phase of clinical trials, currently, GeNose is entering the second phase of clinical trials.
The Minister of Research and Technology/BRIN, Bambang Brodjonegoro, appreciated the Covid-19 detection tool through the exhalation developed by the UGM research team. He said he was ready to support GeNose’s ongoing clinical trials.
“Research/BRIN through the Covid-19 Research and Innovation Consortium is ready to support efforts to finalize GeNose in the form of support for phase 2 clinical trials,” he said.
He hopes that GeNose can be used massively by the community. He targets at least by December 2020; this tool can be used for screening.
“If you have a clinical trial and get a distribution permit from the Ministry of Health, make sure the tool submitted to the Task Force can be a test tool to help Indonesia’s efforts to increase the testing ratio,” he said.
The GeNose handover ceremony was also attended by UGM Vice Rector for Cooperation and Alumni, Paripurna Sugarda, and his entourage, BIN Deputy for Technology Intelligence, Maj. Gen. Afini Boer, Head of the Indonesian National Police Medical and Health Center, Brigadier General Pol Rusdianto, Head of the Research Consortium. and Ministry of Research and Technology/BRIN Covid-19 Innovation, Ali Ghufron Mukti, Plt. Deputy for Strengthening Research and Development of the Ministry of Research and Technology/BRIN, Muhammad Dimyati, a representative from the GeNose supporting industry.
Source: https://ugm.ac.id/id/berita/20120-genose-ugm-bisa-deteksi-covid-19-hanya-dalam-80-detik
