There’s some exciting news folks! A group of local scientists has successfully produced the world’s 1st rapid test kit capable of detecting Covid-19 as accurately as those done in the lab.

This innovation was led by Associate Professor Dr. Wan Wardatul Amani Wan Salim, who is also the first Malaysian to launch the sensory device of the United States Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) for the measurement and monitoring of single cell organisms.

Compared with existing technology, she said the test kit was able to detect Covid-19 using saliva. She also explained that it could detect the coronavirus, even if the individual’s saliva does not contain much trace of other viruses at a cheaper and faster rate.

In an interview with Berita Harian, Associate Prof Dr Wan Wardatul said that the project was originally an attempt to develop a better glucose reading device that could detect sugar content through saliva but it progressed to them  thinking of ideas to help fight Covid-19.

The group of scientists was also listed as one of the Community Award’s 15 finalists organised by Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( MIT) – MIT Solve Challenge, the prestigious university of the United States.

It is a marketing platform for innovation from around the world in terms of social impact as well as opportunities for technology entrepreneurs to expand their potential.

Associate Prof Dr Wan hopes to have a meeting with the Director-General of the Ministry of Health, Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah to present the results of their innovation.

“We are still waiting for feedback from the National Technology & Innovation Sandbox (NTIS), apart from submitting an appeal to the Ministry of Higher Education which rejected our application.

We hope Malaysia can become a hub for the production of this device because it is the result of local children’s innovation, apart from the sensor strip for this device can be sold for less than RM4, if it is widely marketed later,” she said.