NOVOSIBIRSK, December 30. / TASS /. A test system capable of simultaneously detecting the coronavirus genome and deciding whether it is the Omicron variant of the virus has been developed in Russia. Testing through this system takes the same time as regular PCR testing, the Institute of Chemical Biology and Basic Medicine of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences said on Thursday.

The company Modern Laboratory Technologies, resident of the Novosibirsk Biotech Park, and experts from the Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics of the Kirov Military Medical Academy participated in the development of the system together with the Institute of Chemical Biology and basic medicine.

“The developers expect to be able to receive a registration certificate for the medical device in the near future,” said the institute. According to the establishment, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus spreads much faster than previous strains of the virus, which is why it is especially important to detect it early.

“The sensitivity of the new test system is considered high,” the statement added.