FKUI Launches Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Early Detection Tool 'KODC Dengue', Check Out Its 6 Advantages

JAKARTA - The research team from the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia (FKUI), and IMERI FKUI in collaboration with PT Konimex launched an early detection tool for dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) with the name KODC Dengue.

This tool, licensed by the FKUI, uses the principle of Lateral Flow Immunochromatographic Assays (LFIAs) to detect dengue antigen, namely the NS-1 protein present in the patient's blood, either in whole blood, plasma, or serum.

The head of the research team, Beti Ernawati Dewi, said that there were six advantages of Dengue KODC. First, this detection tool works quickly. In the process, it takes 15 minutes to determine the presence or absence of dengue infection. Second, it is sensitive because it is based on the DENV (Dengue Virus) strain circulating in Indonesia.

Third, it is specific because it was developed based on the DENV epitope which does not cross-react with other viruses.

"Fourth, it is relatively cheap because it is domestically produced and can also detect DENV infection with various types of specimens, namely plasma, serum, and whole blood," she explained in a statement in Depok, Antara, Wednesday, September 14.

Furthermore Fifth, it can be stored at room temperature so it does not require a cool chain in shipping and storage. And finally, six, can detect NS-1 from whole blood samples.

The research team involved in the development of the Dengue KODC is dr. Mirawati Sudiro, Ph.D; Fithriyah, M. Biomed, Ph.D.; Evy Suryani and Hidayati Desti from the Department of Clinical Microbiology FKUI-RSCM/Infectious Disease and Immunology Cluster IMERI FKUI, Andriansjah, S.Si, M.Biomed, Ph.D., from the Department of Clinical Microbiology, FKUI-RSCM, and Dr. dr. Leonard Nainggolan, Sp.PD-KPTI., from the Department of Internal Medicine FKUI-RSCM/Infectious Disease and Immunology Cluster IMERI FKUI.

The Dean of FKUI Prof. Dr. dr. Ari Fahrial Syam said this discovery succeeded in completing a series of innovations and breakthroughs by Indonesian researchers, especially FKUI researchers, in the field of earlier detection of dengue fever.

Indonesia as an endemic country for dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is of course greatly helped by this innovation. DHF diagnosis is expected to run faster and more accurately so that optimal treatment can be given immediately.

"I hope that this achievement will be able to attract the enthusiasm of researchers as well as domestic industries to continue to collaborate and innovate in developing the nation's independence in the field of providing medical devices," said Ari Fahrial Syam.

Meanwhile, President Director of PT Konimex, Rachmadi Joesoef said that the journey of the KODC Dengue product started in 2016 from the desire to make every Indonesian people able to detect early diseases in general and can take appropriate preventive actions.