Task Force Launches COVID-19 Detection Machine That Can Test 1,000 Samples Every Day

JAKARTA - The Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19 launched a COVID-19 detection machine called COBAS 6800 Fully-automated Molecular System. This machine is said to be able to test 1,000 swab samples per day.

Minister of Research and Technology / National Research and Innovation Agency (Menristek / BRIN) Bambang Brodjonegoro hopes that with this machine the target of 30,000 sample testing per day requested by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) some time ago can be implemented.

"The addition of the COBAS 6800 FMS machine with a maximum capacity of 1,000 samples per day will support the sample testing target of up to 30 thousand samples per day," said Bambang as quoted on the website of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19, Friday, July 17.

This machine is the second machine owned by Indonesia and one of them is placed at the Eikjman Institute of Molecular Biology (LBM). The way this machine works is to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus using a molecular approach or nucleid acid amplification testing (NAAT).

Furthermore, Head of LBM Eikjman Amin Soebandrio said that COBAS 6800 has used a fully automatic system and no longer requires human assistance or intervention.

"There is no human intervention when the process is running so that it increases operator safety. Fully automatic, meaning that it is controlled, the quality is guaranteed and is faster, that's why it can get 1,000 tests per day," said Amin.

Previously, in an effort to accelerate the handling of COVID-19 in Indonesia, President Jokowi wanted the target of 30 thousand specimen testing to be achieved immediately. He ordered an increase in the number of laboratories in the region and the number of mobile PCR laboratories.

"We hope that the target I conveyed can be achieved at 30 thousand," he said.

Apart from testing, Jokowi also reminded that tracing needs to be done. The goal is to provide special isolation and care or treatment for people under surveillance (ODP) and patients under surveillance (PDP).

With the increasingly massive treatment of ODP and PDP, facilities, especially mattresses, personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical personnel, medicines, ventilators, and isolation rooms are needed.

So he asked a number of provinces that still lacked these facilities to immediately convey it to the Ministry of Health.