homehome Home chatchat Notifications


Bosch develops fast, automated, user-friendly COVID-19 test

It will be available next month

Fermin Koop
March 26, 2020 @ 10:30 pm

share Share

The coronavirus outbreak has brought many challenges for the healthcare sector across the world, which is struggling under the growing number of cases. A key part of their work is now focused on diagnosing as many patients as quickly as possible — and technology is emerging to help our doctors out.

Credit BOSCH

Nevertheless, most tests take up to three days to provide the results. That’s why many companies and countries are looking for potential solutions. The German consortium Bosch has just developed a new, fully automated rapid test for COVID-19, which can provide results in just two and a half hours.

“We want the Bosch rapid COVID-19 test to play a part in containing the coronavirus pandemic as quickly as possible. It will speed up the identification and isolation of infected patients,” said Dr. Volkmar Denner, chairman of the board of management of Bosch.

The test, which will be available in April in Germany and then in other markets, was developed in just six weeks by Bosch. It runs on the Vivalytic analysis device from Bosch Healthcare Solutions and, according to the company, it’s the first fully automatized procedure to test for COVID-19.

The test can be done directly at the hospital or health center, eliminating the need to transport samples, which can take more time. This adds certainty to patients eager to know about their state of health, allowing hospitals to identify and isolate them much faster than possible now.

“Time is of the essence in the fight against coronavirus. Reliable, rapid diagnosis directly on-site with no back and forth – that is the great advantage of our solution, which we see as another example of technology that is ‘Invented for life,” Denner said in a statement.

Bosch’s test not only works for COVID-19 but also tests the other nine respiratory diseases simultaneously, such as influenza A and B. In laboratory tests with coronavirus, the test had results with an accuracy of over 95%, meeting the quality standards of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The test is used by taking a swab from the patient’s nose or throat and then inserting the cartridge, already containing the reagents required for the test, in Bosch’s analyzer – which is meant to be user friendly so more medical personnel can use it. Each analyzer can do ten tests in 24 hours.

“The special feature of the Bosch test is that it offers differential diagnosis, which saves doctors the additional time needed for further tests. It also provides them with a reliable diagnosis quickly so they can then begin suitable treatment faster,” says Marc Meier, president of Bosch

Similar initiatives can be found in other countries. In the US, for example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved new tests that can deliver a COVID-19 diagnosis in only 45 minutes. The test was developed by Cepheid, a California diagnosing company, and it will be sent to hospitals from next week.

share Share

Doctor Discovers 48th Known Blood Group and Only One Person on Earth Has It

A genetic mystery leads to the discovery of a new blood group: “Gwada negative.”

More Than Half of Intersection Crashes Involve Left Turns. Is It Time To Finally Ban Them?

Even though research supports the change, most cities have been slow to ban left turns at even the most congested intersections.

A London Dentist Just Cracked a Geometric Code in Leonardo’s Vitruvian Man

A hidden triangle in the vitruvian man could finally explain one of da Vinci's greatest works.

The Story Behind This Female Pharaoh's Broken Statues Is Way Weirder Than We Thought

New study reveals the ancient Egyptian's odd way of retiring a pharaoh.

China Resurrected an Abandoned Soviet 'Sea Monster' That's Part Airplane, Part Hovercraft

The Soviet Union's wildest aircraft just got a second life in China.

A Rocket Carried Cannabis Seeds and 166 Human Remains into Space But Their Capsule Never Made It Back

The spacecraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean after a parachute failure, ending a bold experiment in space biology and memorial spaceflight.

Ancient ‘Zombie’ Fungus Trapped in Amber Shows Mind Control Began in the Age of the Dinosaurs

The zombie fungus from the age of the dinosaurs.

Your browser lets websites track you even without cookies

Most users don't even know this type of surveillance exists.

Ozempic Users Are Seeing a Surprising Drop in Alcohol and Drug Cravings

Diabetes drugs show surprising promise in reducing alcohol and opioid use

What's Seasonal Body Image Dissatisfaction and How Not to Fall into Its Trap

This season doesn’t have to be about comparison or self-criticism.