With the new method, Germany can take the global fight against SARS-CoV-2 to a new a new level Erhard Seifried

“On the basis of these laboratory results, in particular large cohorts and testing on asymptomatic individuals can be carried out, allowing a massive savings of test kits in particular,” says Ciesek. The research group is currently analysing options for further enlarging the pools. “The results give cause for optimism that when globally established, the procedure will quickly enable better information about the number of people actually infected,” explains Professor Schmidt from the Blood Donor Service. This allows the current number of approximately 40,000 tests per day in all of Germany to be immediately increased to 200,000 to 400,000 tests without reducing the high quality of the diagnosis. To continue efficiently implementing the strategy of early detection and isolation, an extension of screening tests is essential, especially for system-relevant professions such as doctors, nurses, police, firefighters, nursing homes, administration and the food industry. The rights to the invention, for which a patent is pending in Europe and the USA, is held jointly by Goethe University and the German Red Cross. The technology can be made available immediately to other interested institutions through Goethe University’s knowledge transfer company Innovectis.

Goethe University President Professor Birgitta Wolff describes the new analysis method as a “milestone”. “The more people who can be reliably tested for SARS-CoV-2, the faster the pandemic can be curbed.”

“With the new method, Germany can take the global fight against SARS-CoV-2 to a new a new level,” observes Seifried with optimism. The medical director of the University Hospital Frankfurt, Professor Graf, and the president of Goethe University both stressed the successful and trustful collaboration between the Blood Donor Service, the University Hospital, and Goethe University.





Source: Goethe University Frankfurt