19.03.2020, Interfax
MOSCOW. March 19 (Interfax) - Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) reported to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin during a conference call that he had obtained a permit from the Roszdravnadzor (Federal Health Care Supervisory Agency) to use the coronavirus diagnosing system developed jointly by Russia and Japan throughout Russia, the government website said.
"RDIF Chief Executive Officer Kirill Dmitriev informed Mikhail Mishustin on obtaining of the permit of the Federal Health Care Supervisory Agency (Roszdravnadzor) to use the cutting-edge Russian-Japanese system for diagnosing the coronavirus Covid-19 infection in the Russian Federation. Participants in the anti-coronavirus alliance recently set up in Russia in order to test people for the infection noted that the approved innovative test system is a unique solution for today and one of the most effective ones with regard to diagnosing the Covid-19," the Russian government press service said in a statement.
Dmitriev informed Mishustin about that during a conference call with the participation of representatives of entities participating in the Alliance, including RDIF, RSPP (Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs), Yandex and Mail.ru Group
The approved diagnostic system reduces testing time more than fourfold, it said.
"A molecular diagnostic method based on isothermal [amplification] is used in it [the novel diagnostic system], which ensures no less accuracy than the currently used universally-recognized technique called PCR (polymerase chain reaction), but shortens testing time more than fourfold, from two plus hours to just 30 minutes," it said.
The test-system product line is adapted for both stationary labs and portative minilabs that have no analogues elsewhere. The test system can be used anywhere, the government press service said.
Mishustin backed proposals forwarded by alliance representatives regarding changes that could be made to existing regulation to facilitate operative testing of residents.