Bandung, Home of Covid-19 Innovations

KOMPAS/TATANG MULYANA SINAGA

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil (center) gave a press statement during the handover of the loan using the Mobile Bio-Safety Laboratory Level 3 (BSL-3) produced by PT Bio Farma to Padjadjaran University in Bandung on Friday (12/06/2020). This facility will be used for Covid-19 PCR tests in West Java with a capacity of 400 tests per day.

The war against Covid-19 rages on. Amid the continued spread of the disease, healthcare infrastructure and facilities have remained inadequate. Bandung in West Java attempts to be the home of innovative solutions.

Many in Bandung are finding innovative ways to tackle Covid-19, including universities, state-owned enterprises and private companies. Among these innovations is a mobile laboratory in the form of a 40-feet-long container displayed at the Padjadjaran University (Unpad) training hospital on Friday (12/6/2020).

Read also: Discipline is the Keyword

The laboratory, created by state-owned pharmaceutical company PT Bio Farma, has a Bio Safety Level 3 (BSL-3) standard. Its function is for research and diagnostics of microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses. PT Bio Farma director of operations M. Rahman Roestan said this was the first laboratory in Indonesia with a testing capacity of around 400 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests a day.

The laboratory also operates at maximum security level believed to be posing no danger, both for its workers and the people in the surrounding environment.

The laboratory, lent to and operated by Unpad school of medicine, has certain superior features, including in its flexible mobility. The laboratory also operates at maximum security level believed to be posing no danger, both for its workers and the people in the surrounding environment.

“Solid and liquid waste management is proper and guaranteed as it includes a disinfection process,” the laboratory’s planning and production team head Ahmad Tomy Zulfikar said.

This BSL-3 mobile laboratory is Bio Farma’s second innovation in Covid-19 mitigation. The lab launched real time PCR testing in late May. The project, a collaboration between PT Bio Farma and Unpad, is hoped to boost PCR testing in West Java, with its population of 50 million. Unpad rector Rina Indiastuti said the facility had boosted the university’s sample testing capacity to 1,500 samples per day.

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said he was satisfied with the mobile laboratory and had immediately ordered one. Investment value for the lab’s construction is between Rp 6 billion (US$426,210) and Rp 7 billion. “Usually, swab testing must be done at laboratories. Now, testing can be done at the sampling site and we can find out the result immediately,” he said.

As of Friday (19/6), West Java had around 2,800 confirmed cases. The province has carried out around 208,000 tests, including 148,000 rapid tests and 60,000 PCR tests. Around 627 Covid-19 testing mobile units are in use to take samples across regions.

In the future, Kamil said he hoped other innovations in mobile laboratories would crop up that could penetrate villages in southern West Java that have narrow and hilly access roads.

“They will have smaller testing capacity. However, it will still be effective as the access roads will be impenetrable by containers,” he explained.

Things at stake in Bandung

The presence of many competent institutions in Bandung puts great things at stake in West Java. Problems, such as the use of raincoats for personal protective equipment and hospitals lacking in adequate facilities, can be found easily on social media. Solving them cannot be done instantly. Imported ventilators, for instance, can cost up to Rp 700 million. Face masks are also difficult to find and their price has surged to absurd levels.

KOMPAS/TATANG MULYANA SINAGA

A visitor wash their hands using soap at the Farm House Susu Lembang tourist spot, West Bandung Regency, West Java, on Sunday (14/6/2020).

Amid such urgent issues, innovations crop up one by one. For instance, state aircraft maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia is collaborating with the Bandung Institute Technology (ITB) to create Vent-I (Ventilator Indonesia) portable ventilators to help Covid-19 patients breathe. State weapons manufacturer PT Pindad has also created Ventilator Convent-20, designed to provide oxygen to patients facing respiratory failure.

“Imported products cost between Rp 500 million and Rp 700 million. This domestic product is only Rp 20 million. It is not lavish but has adequate functions,” Kamil said.

Private companies do not wish to get left behind. After PT Multi One Plus based in Bogor regency produced thousands of surgical masks and hazmat suits, Bandung-based PT Asia Rekacipta Manufaktur produced the HooHaa Bridge Ventilator. The product has passed the test for emergency resuscitators at the Health Ministry’s Healthcare Facilities Security Agency.

Most recently, good news also came from Unpad and ITB, which collaborated in researching Covid-19 detection equipment. Deteksi CePAD or Rapid Test 2.0 and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) have entered the virus sample validation phase. Unpad rapid test research coordinator Muhammad Yusuf said the validation would take place after laboratory validations for the two pieces of equipment.

“Formulation and lab scale testing on the virus’ protein are showing good results,” he said.

Yusuf said that, after the validation process in May-June 2020, his team would produce 10,000 antigen rapid test kits. This will be followed by production of 50,000 kits per month.

Meanwhile, SPR is being developed in collaboration between ITB and Unpad under the Covid-19 Research and Mitigation Innovation Task Force (TFRIC-19). The program was initiated and is being coordinated by the Agency for the Assessment and Implementation of Technology (BPPT) and the Research and Technology Ministry.

HUMAS PEMPROV JABAR

Covid-19 virus detection tool developed by Unpad and ITB.

The equipment, which is the size of a car battery, can detect interaction between biosensor and the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Samples from patients or in VTM (viral transport medium) are mixed with solvent and channeled through the SPR equipment. If there is virus in the sample, there will be a change of signals read by the equipment.

“The SPR is developed as an alternative method to detect Covid-19 and is hoped to have PCR-like accuracy. ITB develops the SPR method and Unpad develops the biosensors, namely the molecules that can catch the virus,” Yusuf said.

Various domestic innovations are strong capital to face the pandemic. However, this will not guarantee a victory against Covid-19. Proper data collection of cases and widespread awareness in enforcing health protocols are of no less importance than innovations of healthcare equipment and facilities.