Wuxi-based biomedical firms contribute to COVID-19 fight

Over 30 biomedical companies based in Wuxi are actively engaged in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, according to the local science and technology bureau.

The local center for disease control and prevention in Wuxi received donations worth about 2.7 million yuan ($415,347) for epidemic control and prevention from Wuxi NEST Biotechnology Co on Aug 10.

The donations included 400,000 sets of disposable sampling tube swab kits and five fully automatic nucleic acid extractors (96 channels).

The fully automatic nucleic acid extractor can extract nucleic acid samples from 96 test samples simultaneously. It only takes 20 minutes to complete an extraction, which can greatly improve the efficiency of nucleic acid detection.

The company's subsidiary, Wuxi Techstar Technology Co, has developed an automatic cupping system that can process 300 samples in one hour.

Tang Dayun, general manager of Wuxi Techstar Technology Co, said that the system can not only provide a safe environment for medical workers, but also five times more efficiency than manual operations. In addition, the nasal spray atomization device developed by the firm can save vaccine recipients from intramuscular injections.

Antigen and antibody detection kits developed and produced by Wuxi Techstar Technology Co, Wuxi Shenrui Biological Products Co, as well as Wuxi BioHermes Bio&Medical Technology Co have also obtained international certification and have been exported to foreign countries.