Fujifilm Europe has launched its rapid antigen test kit for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection, following the receipt of the CE certificate.
The company is using its silver amplification immunochromatography method based on silver halide amplification technology.
A highly sensitive antigen test is viable, even with SARS-CoV-2 antigen, by applying silver amplification immunochromatography, Fujifilm confirmed.
The antigen test kit is capable of examining the SARS-CoV-2 antigen’s presence in specimens rapidly, detecting the virus at an early stage.
The test kit uses nasopharyngeal swab samples and provides results within ten to 13 minutes.
It can also be used in community or clinical settings and provides quick results compared to the current laboratory tests.
FUJIFILM Europe medical systems division senior vice-president Masaharu Fukumoto said: “During the pandemic, Fujifilm supported the global healthcare community in the complex management of the emergency.
“Today we can provide further support for the early detection of Covid-19, through a rapid antigen test that can provide a highly sensitive result for early detection.
“We used our proprietary silver amplification immunochromatographic method, that amplifies signal particles more than 100 times and increases the sensitivity, and has the potential to enhance detection in more asymptomatic patients carrying the Covid-19 virus an at an early stage.”
The company has marketed silver amplification immunochromatography-based rapid diagnostic testing equipment and reagents to detect influenza and other infectious diseases since 2011.
Additionally, it is contributing to the improvement in SARS-CoV-2 testing by supplying PCR test reagents and the reagents for use with the fully automated immunoassay system μTASWako g1.
