Seegene's Mobile Station takes Covid testing on the road

Seegene's Mobile Station testing unit [SEEGENE]

Covid-19 test kit manufacturer Seegene is expanding its infectious disease-focused product lineup with the introduction of a new transportable testing center.

Seegene's “Mobile Station” was introduced at the Medlab Middle East 2021 on Monday, one of the world’s largest trade shows for diagnostics technology and medical equipment, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Inside its container walls, Mobile Station contains areas where medical staff can swab patients and analyze results on the spot. It will contain equipment to process polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, which is the dominant testing method used for the coronavirus in hospitals worldwide.

The main reason that authorities currently insist that tests are conducted in medical institutes is contamination. Hazardous viruses both entering and escaping Covid-19 testing locations could create problems. At the moment, the equipment that mitigates that risk is generally only available in established institutions like hospitals and research centers.

Mobile Station contains negative pressure equipment, which can lower air pressure inside the room to make hazardous particles drop to the floor, and Class 2 biosafety cabinets. The latter are like ventilated desks for medical researchers to prevent them from breathing in pathogens. Their functionality ranges from Class 1 to 3.

According to Seegene, Mobile Station can test and produce results for up to 7,500 people a day. Using its testing and analysis equipment, the company claims test recipients could receive results in 3.5 hours after the PCR swab.

“We’re hoping the testing center could play a big role in slowing down the pandemic on a global scale and testing Covid-19 variants that are increasingly spreading,” Seegene said in a Tuesday statement.

The Mobile Station will be compatible with not only Covid-19 tests, but also 150 other testing kits Seegene has developed for other infections, such as sexually transmitted diseases and gastrointestinal diseases.

During the Dubai trade show, Seegene signed a contract with G42 Healthcare, an IT and healthcare company based in Abu Dhabi. Under the agreement, the two companies will sell Mobile Stations in the Middle East and North Africa, according to Seegene.

“Possibilities are high that the coronavirus will coexist with humanity from now on — this calls for new disinfection measures,” said Lee Min-cheol, Seegene’s vice president. “Even if the coronavirus comes to an end, Mobile Stations will play a crucial role in detecting a new virus before it escalates into a large-scale pandemic.”

BY SONG KYOUNG-SON [song.kyoungson@joongang.co.kr]