DigitalOptic-NobleBio, Patent Application for COVID-19 Saliva Specimen Collection

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] As the fourth wave of COVID-19, including the 'Delta variant,' intensifies, Digital Optic is accelerating the development of saliva-based rapid diagnostic kits through a patent application related to saliva specimen collection.

Digital Optic announced on the 23rd that it has completed a joint patent application with its largest shareholder, Noble Bio, for a quantitative COVID-19 saliva specimen collection tool.

Noble Bio, the only domestic company producing Class 2 approved products related to virus specimen collection, preservation, and transport, has developed a new type of specimen collection tool with high applicability in various tests such as COVID-19 self-diagnosis, on-site testing, and molecular diagnostics.

Noble Bio's saliva specimen collection tool collects saliva by a capturing method rather than absorbing it like conventional medical swabs. Depending on the size of the collection part, it can quantitatively collect about 150ul to 200ul of saliva, minimizing diagnostic errors. Additionally, by bending the collection part into a dedicated container, only the saliva specimen can be safely transported or used immediately in diagnostic fields on-site, attracting attention.

The saliva specimen collection tool allows testers to self-collect specimens non-face-to-face and can be applied to both government-recommended saliva PCR (gene amplification) and rapid antigen tests, so demand is expected to expand. In particular, compared to the uncomfortable method of inserting a collection kit into the nasal cavity, it has advantages in self-diagnosis and reducing test refusal.

Digital Optic is expected to gain momentum by focusing on developing saliva-based rapid rapid diagnostic kits and rapid molecular diagnostic kits based on the quantitative COVID-19 saliva specimen collection tool for which the patent application has been completed.

A company official said, “The quantitative saliva specimen collection tool developed by Noble Bio has already been released, and once sales begin based on the completion of this joint patent application, demand is expected to surge. Currently, at Noble Bio's biotechnology research institute, performance evaluations are underway using in-house products such as COVID-19 rapid diagnostic kits and CTM (Clinical Transport Medium) for broad applications including rapid antigen diagnosis and molecular diagnostics. The analysis results related to performance evaluation are scheduled to be published in prestigious academic journals in the second half of the year,” he explained.

He added, “During the current heatwave, the saliva specimen collection tool represents a technological advancement enabling rapid and non-face-to-face collection. We will achieve visible results in developing various products such as saliva-based rapid rapid diagnostic kits and rapid molecular diagnostic kits as soon as possible.”