Developed by Near East University, the TRNC's domestic PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit was awarded the "Special Mention Award for the Year 2021" by the European Biotechnology Association.
The domestic PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, of which R&D and design process carried out by Turkish scientists at Near East University, and made available in the TRNC in July with the approval of the Ministry of Health, received the 2021 Special Mention Award given at the European Biotechnology Congress held by the European Biotechnology Thematic Network Association (EBTNA).

The award given to the TRNC's native PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, which was developed throughout the studies carried out by Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Dr. Gülten Tuncel, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mahmut Çerkez Ergören from Near East University, was presented to Deputy Rector Prof. Dr.Tamer Şanlıdağ by President of the European Biotechnology Association Prof. Dr. Munis Dündar.

TRNC's domestic PCR kit simultaneously diagnoses four main variants of COVID-19
The PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, developed to diagnose the COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, detects the presence of the virus in less than an hour, while at the same time Alpha (UK), Beta, which are classified as variants of the virus by the World Health Organization, (South Africa), Gamma (Brazil) and Delta (India) variants can also be classified. Developed at the Near East University research labs, the kit is the first in the world to scan and diagnose these four main variants simultaneously.

Near East University's new PCR kit will diagnose flu and COVID-19 from the same sample
Near East University scientists continue to develop the PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, which received the 2021 Special Mention Award given by the European Biotechnology Association. Near East University also designed a hybrid PCR Diagnostic Kit, which diagnoses viruses that cause influenza and COVID-19 from the same sample and of which the design and R&D belong entirely to the university. Thanks to the kit designed in line with the recommendations of the US Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the hybrid kits that can diagnose SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A and B viruses will enable the TRNC to continue to fight with the pandemic in line with the rest of the world.

Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “I am receiving this meaningful award not only on behalf of Near East University but also on behalf of the entire TRNC.”
Emphasizing that the PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, which was designed at the Near East University research labs and started to be used with the approval of the TRNC Ministry of Health, will meet a very important need of the TRNC during the pandemic process, Near East University Deputy Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “It is a great honor for us that our PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, developed and produced by Near East University with the vision of university 4.0, was awarded by the European Biotechnology Association. I am receiving this meaningful award not only on behalf of Near East University but also on behalf of the entire TRNC.” Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ also said, “We would like to thank our esteemed professors who contributed to the development and production of our PCR Diagnosis and Variant Analysis Kit, and our Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel for his endless support.”