The PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit developed by Near East University is ready to use!


Developed by Near East University, the TRNC's native PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit can simultaneously detect the UK, South Africa, Brazil and India variants of SARS-CoV-2 within 1 hour.

The PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, designed and developed by Near East University scientists, successfully passed all tests and proved its reliability. The PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, developed to detect the COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, detects the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in less than an hour, while at the same time, the widely known Alpha (UK), Beta (South Africa) ), Gamma (Brazil) and Delta (India) variants can be detected separately.

The SARS-CoV-2 PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, designed entirely by Near East University scientists, aims to create an alternative to the test kits imported by the TRNC from abroad .

After obtaining the necessary approvals and permissions from the Ministry of Health of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the TRNC's native PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, developed by Near East University, is expected to be put into use immediately.

Achieved 100 percent success in comparative tests
The R&D and design process of the PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, on which Near East University scientists have been working for a long time, was completed in February. Continuing optimization studies and safety and sensitivity tests of the kit were completed and it is now ready for mass production.

The results of the TRNC's native PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, which was subjected to many comparative tests to measure its reliability, sensitivity in the laboratories of Near East University, were also confirmed with the results of the commercial kits currently used in the market. As a result of the comparative analyzes made with different kits, it was determined that the developed kit works with 100 percent sensitivity and reliability.

Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel: “Our first priority is to create a strong and reliable domestic alternative to the kits our country imports from abroad”
Near East Initiative Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel said that the PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit they developed is currently the most comprehensive variant analysis kit among the kits used commercially around the world. Prof. Dr. Günsel said, “With the PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, which we have designed in our own research laboratories, we can obtain fast, safe and 100 percent precise results in as short as 1 hour. It is a great honor for us to serve our country by producing the TRNC's native PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit in the fight against COVID-19.

Expressing that the Near East University PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit will start to be used as soon as obtaining the necessary approvals from the Ministry of Health, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel said, “Our first priority is to create a strong and reliable domestic alternative to the kits our country imports from abroad. In the second step, we want to offer the PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit that we developed for use abroad, especially in Turkey.”

Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “The PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit we have developed can provide all the results that will detect COVID-19, including variant analysis, in less than an hour.”
Near East University Acting Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “The kit we have developed gives all the results to detect COVID-19, including variant analysis, in less than an hour.” Reminding that Europe and the United Kingdom are under the influence of the Indian (Delta) variant of SARS-CoV-2, Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “The ability to perform variant analyzes of SARS-CoV-2 quickly is one of the main factors that will determine the course of the fight against COVID-19. For this reason, we have developed the PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, which we designed with our scientists at Near East University, in such a way that it can detect the four main variants of Covid-19 spread all over the world. With this aspect, the Near East University PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit is among the leading and most reliable test kits in the world.”

Expressing that the Near East University PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit will start to be used as soon as obtaining the necessary approvals from the Ministry of Health, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel said, “Our first priority is to create a strong and reliable domestic alternative to the kits our country imports from abroad. In the second step, we want to offer the PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit that we developed for use abroad, especially in Turkey.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mahmut Çerkez Ergören: “The PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit we have developed has an accuracy rate of 100 percent"
Near East University COVID-19 PCR Diagnostic Laboratory member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mahmut Çerkez Ergören stated that the local PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit they have developed passed all verification and validation stages, and that they compared it with the results of commercial test kits used all over the world and they found an accuracy rate of 100 percent. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ergören emphasized that the test kit, of which all processes, from R&D to design, were carried out at the Near East University labs, will meet an important need of the TRNC.