Japan Group Develops Multi - Variant Detector
A group of scientists in Japan says it has developed a technology that could identify more than 100 coronavirus mutations in a single test.
The members of the group include Toho University Professor Tateda Kazuhiro, an infectious disease expert, and a Japanese manufacturer.
The technology called the "pi code method" uses discs measuring just 0.04 millimeters across that have a barcode-like pattern on their surface.
A reagent that emits light when it reacts with genes unique to mutations is applied to the discs, which are mixed with a virus sample.
The group says that theoretically, a sample could be checked for more than 100 types of mutations by using multiple discs designed to react to different targets.
The members say a special device will read the barcode patterns to automatically identify discs that have emitted light. This allows scientists to determine the mutations in the sample.
They were able to identify that a sample can be tested for the UK variant, the South African variant and others all at once.
Tateda says coronavirus mutations could become more complex, and there will be a need to quickly detect a larger number of variants. He says it's important to be developing this kind of technology to prepare for such a situation.