New rapid antibody test kits for novel coronavirus developed

The State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, a research group in south China, said Friday that they have developed rapid diagnostics kits for IgM antibodies to novel coronavirus and conducted preliminary laboratory and clinical evaluation in cooperation with several other research institutes.

The kit requires a drop of blood and results can be observed within 15 minutes, according to the report.

IgM antibodies are the first antibodies the body produces in response to an exposure to infection.