Fujifilm has developed new coronavirus test that produces results in just 2 hours

Fujifilm has developed new coronavirus test that produces results in just 2 hours
(Image credit: Fujifilm)

While we may know Fujifilm primarily as a camera company, it's also known as a pioneer in diagnostic imaging and information systems for medical services. With the world currently dealing with the spread of coronavirus, Fujifilm Holdings Corp has announced that it has developed a new test for coronavirus that promises to deliver results much faster than existing tests.

Developed by subsidiary Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Corp, the SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR detection kit will apparently be able to test for the virus faster than existing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which take four to six hours. 

• Read more: Everything photographers need to work from home

According to the New York Times, this test will reduce the time of results delivery to only two hours, which could prove valuable in the fight against coronavirus. Fujifilm has said that this new test will be released on 15 April. 

This announcement follows the news that a drug developed by Fujifilm has been successful in the treatment of COVID-19. Avigan is an experimental antiviral that's used to treart RNA viruses. It's shown efficacy against influenza derivatives, yellow fever, foot-and-mouth disease and numerous others. It's considered so successful that the Chinese government has officially recommended its use in its response to the pandemic.

On Friday, Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, told a news conference that the government has had requests for Avigan from around 30 different countries, and is now apparently considering providing grant-free access.

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Louise Carey

With over a decade of photographic experience, Louise arms Digital Camera World with a wealth of knowledge on photographic technique and know-how – something at which she is so adept that she's delivered workshops for the likes of ITV and Sue Ryder. Louise also brings years of experience as both a web and print journalist, having served as features editor for Practical Photography magazine and contributing photography tutorials and camera analysis to titles including Digital Camera Magazine and  Digital Photographer. Louise currently shoots with the Fujifilm X-T200 and the Nikon D800, capturing self-portraits and still life images, and is DCW's ecommerce editor, meaning that she knows good camera, lens and laptop deals when she sees them.