A molecular test kit named the SARS-COV-2 Isothermal Molecular Assay (SIMA) has been developed by the Nigerian government to improve Coronavirus testing in the country.
Minister of state for health, Olorunnimbe Mamora who made the announcement at the bi-weekly Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing on Tuesday September 29, said the test kit which was developed by the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) can produce results in less than 40 minutes.
It is said to be faster than the Reverse Transcription- Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) which is currently the main source of Coronavirus testing in the country, and also ten times cheaper than PCR. The test kit can be deployed for point of care detection and surveillance.
Mamora said;
“The Nigeria Institute of Medical Research has developed a molecular test for COVID-19 that can give results in less than 40 minutes.
“It is the SARS-COV-2 Isothermal Molecular Assay (SIMA) which can be performed by low skilled personnel with minimum training.”
