Japan's Fujifilm to produce COVID-19 antigen test kits in Vietnam
Japanese precision chemistry firm Fujifilm Corp. is planning to expand its production facilities in Vietnam to make SARS-CoV-2 antigen test kits to serve the global markets.
At the Fujifilm headsquarter in Tokyo, Japan (Source: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Japanese precision chemistryfirm Fujifilm Corp. is planning to expand its production facilities in Vietnamto make SARS-CoV-2 antigen test kits to serve the global markets.
An official of the Tokyo-based company was quoted by KyodoNews Agency as saying Fujifilm will invest an undisclosed amount in FujifilmYuwa Medical Products Vietnam Co., a joint venture producing diagnostic agents,in stages starting in the next fiscal year to build a monthly production capacityof 2 million testing kits. A date for the start of production has yet to bedecided.
With its own technology used in the photo printing process,the kits can quickly and easily detect the novel coronavirus antigens. InJapan, Fujifilm plans to produce the kits at its plant in Kanagawa Prefecture,west of Tokyo, as it has applied for manufacturing and marketing approval tothe state's examining authority.
Fujifilm Yuwa Medical Products was established in May in thesouthern province of Binh Duong, with Fujifilm owning 51 percent and Yuwa Co.,a molding maker based in Japanese Nagano Prefecture, 49 percent. It beganproducing diagnostic drugs in November this year.
In antigen tests, doctors insert swabs into a patient'snostril and put nasal discharge on a testing kit plate to get the result onsite. Despite its lower accuracy than the currently dominant polymerase chainreaction, or PCR, tests, the quick and easy method is expected to be used inairports and event venues as well as hospitals./.
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At the Fujifilm headsquarter in Tokyo, Japan (Source: AFP/VNA) 
