Taiwan News is reporting that Taiwanese scientists have developed a rapid test for coronavirus. It isn’t yet clear if the FDA will work with Taiwanese authorities to roll the test out here in America.

Taiwan scientists develop antibodies for 15-minute Wuhan virus test in 19 days

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Academia Sinica on Sunday (March 8) announced that a team of scientists has developed antibodies that can identify the protein that causes the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) in just 19 days, paving the way for a new test for the virus that can provide results within 15 minutes.

On its Facebook page at noon on Sunday, Academia Sinica announced that Dr. An-Suei Yang (楊安綏) and his team at the Genomics Research Center had developed monoclonal antibodies that can identify the protein of SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19, within a “record-breaking” 19 days. Specifically, Yang said that the first monoclonal antibodies to bind the nucleocapsid protein (N protein) have been successfully tested and generated.

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Meanwhile, Taiwan News is also reporting that the sovereign, independent nation of Taiwan is working to help Palau with its coronavirus response.

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Taiwan helps Pacific ally Palau with coronavirus test

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan recently analyzed the coronavirus tests on a volunteer from the United States working in Pacific ally Palau, proving Taiwan helps out other countries, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Saturday (March 7).

Taiwan has tried to join the World Health Organization (WHO). It attended the annual World Health Assembly, using the phrase “Taiwan Can Help” to promote its case in the face of Chinese opposition.

When the U.S. volunteer showed symptoms of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) recently, the government of Palau decided to send the test data not to the U.S., which would have taken much more time, but to its ally Taiwan, CNA reported.

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