Brazilian startup aiming to deliver a 15-minute coronavirus test

A Brazilian health-tech startup that specialises in laboratory exam equipment is working on a faster test for COVID-19

Spotted:  Hi Technologies, a Brazilian health-tech startup that specialises in laboratory exam equipment, is working on a faster test for COVID-19 that could return results in only 15 minutes.

The priority will be the state of São Paulo, given that this is where most of the confirmed COVID-19 cases are in Brazil, and Curitiba, where the company is based. According to the company’s co-founder and CEO, Marcus Figueredo, the test was validated this month and the first batch is expected to be ready in the second week of April. All 130 employees have been focused on making and delivering the tests. 

After the startup was partially acquired by Positivo Tecnologia in 2016, they set up Hilab — a portable, connected laboratory that is capable of instantly detecting infectious diseases through non-invasive blood tests.

The procedure offered by Hi is done remotely, and only a few drops of blood are required, which are collected in a capsule and mixed to reagents in a portable device. The gathered data is then instantly transmitted to their laboratory, where it is processed using Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence technologies, and partnerships with the likes of Microsoft and Intel. Results are then delivered in a matter of minutes.

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