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WE ARE PROUD PARTNER OF THE SUCCESS OF SLOVAK RESEARCH
February 12, 2021
We are part of the success of Slovak research in the development of the vDetect Covid-19 RT-qPCR test.
Slovak coronavirus tests are registered and the first 100,000 tests are ready for submission.
Slovak scientists from MultiplexDX, the Biomedical Centre of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (BMC SAV) and the Comenius University Science Park in Bratislava have joined forces with Lambda Life and ProScience Tech to develop the first registered Slovak test for COVID-19.
"The collaboration of talented scientists and domestic companies not only gave birth to the first certified Slovak PCR test for COVID-19, but all the players were able to create a cutting-edge product in difficult conditions that will help the country when it needs it most. It was not easy at all and I am happy that it was finally achieved" said Róbert Mistrík from the permanent crisis team.
The COVID-19 disease tests, developed by Slovak scientists, have been registered with the State Institute for Drug Control (ŠUKL), thus completing the entire process of their development and production. The first 100,000 tests, donated to Slovakia by the ESET Foundation, are ready to be handed over to state diagnostic laboratories.
Yesterday, the State Institute for Drug Control (ŠUKL) registered the Slovak vDetect COVID-19 RT qPCR test. ŠUKL dealt with the application for registration of the test on a priority basis and a decision on registration was issued within four working days of receipt of the application. As the technical documentation and validation tests fulfilled the necessary criteria, the registration was completed smoothly. This is the first registration of an IVD test by the State Institute for Drug Control that has been designed, manufactured and registered in Slovakia," said the Director of the State Institute for Drug Control, PharmDr. Zuzana Baťová, PhD.
In the process of validating the tests, Slovak scientists from MultiplexDX figured out a way to increase the sensitivity of the test. The tests underwent validation, which showed 100 percent match with the samples already evaluated. "Validation tests performed blindly in two independent laboratories on 92 clinical samples showed identical results compared to the reference method as well as to each other, thus demonstrating the high reliability of the Slovak test also directly on clinical samples," explains RNDr. Boris Klempa, DrSc. from BMC SAV.
ESET Foundation supported the development of Slovak tests and decided to donate the first 100,000 tests to Slovakia. "The development of the Slovak tests proves that cutting-edge science is being performed in Slovakia, and at the same time demonstrates the ability of science to provide solutions to societal problems. That is why we have been supporting science for a long time. Our involvement in the development of the Slovak coronavirus tests was also natural for us because we have been involved in the detection of virtual viruses since its inception," explains Richard Marko, CEO of ESET.
The team of RNDr. Tomáš Szemes, PhD from the Vedecký park UK also participated in the development and validation of the tests: "Together with the team, we worked on optimization and validation, and I myself was surprised by how quickly and smoothly it went, including registration." Roman Oravec from the non-profit organization CCCT SK prepared the final documentation for the registration at ŠUKL. The involvement of the Slovak companies Lambda Life and ProScience Tech was also crucial for the preparation of the test kits. It was the involvement of a larger number of scientists, experts, institutions and companies that enabled the creation of the first Slovak test for Covid-19.
