The National Health Research Institute on Monday said it has transferred its rapid COVID-19 test technology to five domestic manufacturers for mass production.
In April, the institute unveiled a COVID-19 test that produces results in 15 minutes and has a 70% accuracy rate. The institute developed the test in collaboration with the National Defense Medical Center.
The institute said it will continue to optimize the test and obtain certification from the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration. However it said that clinical studies will have to be conducted abroad since Taiwan has few COVID-19 patients. The institute estimates that the rapid diagnostic test will be on the market by the end of 2020.