Fujirebio, a subsidiary of Japanese diagnostics and laboratory testing service provider Miraca Holdings, last month applied for government approval for its antigen kit. Antigen tests scan for proteins that can be found on or inside a virus. Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told parliament on Friday that antigen tests, once approved, will likely be used to supplement PCR tests. Japan has conducted 188 PCR tests per 100,000 people, compared with 3,159 in Italy and 3,044 in Germany, data from a panel of medical experts advising the government showed last week. The United States last week approved its first coronavirus antigen kit, one made by Quidel Corp.

Source: bd News24 May 12, 2020 03:45 UTC