1-hour dengue test kit available soon

The breakthrough test kit that can diagnose dengue cases in less than an hour will soon be available.

The University of the Philippines has finally approved a commercialization deal with the startup company formed by the team of UP Manila scientist-doctors that developed the technology.

Dr. Luis Sison, director of the UP Technology Transfer Office, said the UP Board of Regents approved last March 31 the commercial deal with the Manila HealthTek Inc. (M-Tek) headed by Dr. Raul Destura, who led a team of UP Manila scientistdoctors that developed the technology for fast detection of dengue fever.

UP mainly approved the third- party fairness opinion report (FOR) on the licensing and royalty sharing for the dengue diagnosis technology done under the auspices of UP Manila and with funding from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

“M-Tek will have a market launch around May or June before the start of the rainy season,” Sison said.

Destura had earlier lamented the slow process of approval for the commercialization of the fast dengue diagnosis technology they had locally developed, as he pointed out that they had developed the technology as early as January 2014.

Sison admitted that the slow process of approval had been frustrating for UP since they recognized the importance of the technology and its impact in reducing dengue fever deaths.

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