FNA - Head of Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council (INIC) Saeed Sarkar said on Monday that the country�s researchers have developed an advanced system which can diagnose coronavirus in patients in 30 minutes, adding that mass-production of the device has started.

�The reactive oxygen species (ROS) detector in the sputum sample (RDSS) has been judged by the world science centers and institutes for identifying people suspicious of infection to coronavirus,� Sarkar said on Monday.

He added that the system has received license from Iran�s national coronavirus campaign headquarters, noting that its mass-production has started.

�The system can detect symptoms of the disease in 30 minutes and can diagnose virus by testing the sputum of the infected person,� Sarkar said, explaining that the RDSS device is not able to find coronavirus directly in the sputum of a patient but it can diagnose ROS which is one of the definite symptoms of infection to COVID-19 virus.

In a relevant development in May, Iranian scientists at the Islamic Azad University�s Semnan branch produced a thermometer that could identify coronavirus-infected patients through blood oxygen measurement.

�The system measures body temperature and blood oxygen concurrently; its main feature comes with its fixed position which means that the user does not need to have any contact with the system,� Head of the Energy Optimization and Sustainable Development Center of Islamic Azad University in Semnan Hadi Kargar Sharifabad said, addressing the unveiling ceremony of the system.

He added that the system is also able to show information about the suspected coronavirus patients in different formats.

Sharifabad said that the new thermometer system has the advantage of single-stage combined body temperature and blood oxygen measurement to diagnose coronavirus infection to reduce medical margin of error.