An Indian-origin team of researchers led by Dr Ravindra Kolhe from Georgia-based Augusta University has developed a novel, accurate coronavirus test that can tell patients in if they are infected within about two hours, instead of waiting typically days to hear from remote testing facilities. The team at the Georgia Esoteric and Molecular (GEM) laboratory at the Medical College of Georgia’s Department of Pathology, Augusta University, said the lab would also like to test samples from outside the immediate area when requested, but those details are still being worked out.

At the moment, the test is for patients whose samples are taken at the Augusta University’s Health System. “We want patients and physicians in our community to have timely access to information that will ultimately benefit us all by helping limit spread of the virus,” said Kolhe.