Indonesia Invents Detecting Tool for Covid-19

JAKARTA,KOMPAS.com - GeNose, a locally produced device to detect Covid-19 infection through human breath, can now be used by the public after Indonesia's Ministry of Health issued its distribution permit in December 2020. 

The device was developed by a research team at Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University (UGM).  

The Indonesian railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) on Monday, February 15 has officially provided more GeNose C19 Covid-19 screening services in six railway stations, bringing the total to eight stations.

To get the service, train passengers could pay 20,000 Indonesian rupiahs ($1.40), which is more affordable than the existing Covid-19 tests in the country. Before getting the GeNose test, however, people are banned from consuming anything except water 30-minutes before taking the test.

The test only takes about two minutes, and it detects the reaction between the coronavirus and body tissue in the respiratory tract with at least 95 percent accuracy.

ANTARA FOTO/MUHAMMAD ADIMAJA An officer insert a pouch containing CO2 for testing it with GeNose at Pasar Senen Station, Jakarta, on Thursday, February 4, 2021. ANTARA FOTO/Muhammad Adimaja/aww.

KOMPAS.com/GARRY LOTULUNG Prospective long-distance train passengers follow the GeNose C19 breath sample test at Pasar Senen Station, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, February 4, 2021. Starting February 5, 2021, PT KAI provide GeNose C19 screening services at Pasar Senen Station and Yogyakarta Station as a condition for taking long-distance trains.

ANTARA FOTO/M RISYAL HIDAYAT Coordinating for Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy exhales his breath into the breath bag to be tested with GeNose C19 at his Office, Jakarta, Thursday, January 7, 2021. ANTARA FOTO/M Risyal Hidayat/wsj.

(Writers: Rully R. Ramli, Wijaya Kusuma| Editors: Yoga Sukmana, Teuku Muhammad Valdy Arief)

Sources: https://money.kompas.com/read/2021/02/15/103741726/kini-pemeriksaan-genose-tersedia-di-8-stasiun-ka-ini-daftar-dan-harganya?page=all 

https://regional.kompas.com/read/2020/12/29/11051361/genose-ugm-diklaim-mudah-digunakan-dan-tak-butuh-pemeliharaan-rumit