VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

ITB team has succeeded in making the qPCR type of Corona Virus Detection Machine

The number of PCR machines in Indonesia is still limited. During the current surge in Covid-19 cases, the queue for examining patient samples has become long and it takes a long time. In addition, there is no domestic production of PCR machines so far. Seeing this condition, the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) lecturer team took the initiative to make a machine to detect the coronavirus (SARS CoV-2) that causes Covid-19. The tool used for testing samples of the corona virus is called ‘qPCR’ or quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The machine which is classified as a prototype of the first model has been made as many as four units. The ITB lecturers involved in the qPCR machine research are Anggraini Barlian and Karlia Meitha from the School of Biological Science and Technology, and Adi Indrayanto and Muhammad Iqbal Arsyad from the School of Electrical and Informatics Engineering.

This qPCR machine made by ITB runs two important processes simultaneously. While processing the duplication of RNA (ribonucleic acid) stored in 16 sample tubes using the Thermal Cycling technique, the machine simultaneously detects viral RNA by electrophoresis technique. The detection is done by observing the intensity of the glow of a special compound called a fluorophore. The compound is bound to viral RNA. The more viral RNA that is successfully duplicated, the more specific compounds are bound. This special compound will glow if given light with a certain color. From the four types of compounds, the team only used one type of fluorophore, namely SYBR Green. The team plans to continue to develop the capabilities of the machine by using more than one type of fluorophore at the same time to increase the accuracy of virus detection.

The government provides research and development funds for qPCR machines amounting to Rp 1 billion. Although the machine is now complete and has been tested several times in the laboratory, the team still needs to carry out additional testing and refinement of the software system. The goal is to pass the testing by the authorized institution. It is hoped that this machine will be used sooner.

A panel of judges at the Tokyo High Court on Tuesday (13/7) acquitted 2 Indonesian citizens with the initials A and I on charges of smuggling methamphetamine into Japan in 2019. Previously at the trial in the first instance, A and I were found guilty and sentenced to 6 years in prison and a fine of 2 million Yen each.

Indonesian Ambassador to Japan, Heri Akhmadi, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday (19/7), welcomed the verdict of the Tokyo High Court which had released both Indonesian citizens. He also appreciated the hard work of the Indonesian Citizen Protection Team of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo along with a team of lawyers who for 2 years provided legal assistance for both of them.

Ambassador Heri Akhmadi further stated that the protection of Indonesian citizens in Japan will continue to be an important priority for his mission in Japan. He also emphasized that A and I have gone through a legal process in Japan, considering that all Indonesian citizens while abroad are required to comply with local laws. In the future, according to Ambassador Heri, cases A and I can be a lesson not to easily trust people who are not known and want to leave their goods abroad.

Both Indonesian citizens were repatriated to Indonesia on Saturday (17/7). Before returning to Indonesia, they stayed at the Indonesian Embassy Protection shelter in Tokyo. They were even facilitated to take a walk in downtown Tokyo and buy souvenirs for their family. Both of them expressed their gratitude for the support and assistance of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, since being arrested by the Japanese police and spending days in prisons in Chiba and Tokyo, until the trial process. Facilitated by the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, A and I always receive news and encouragement from their families in Indonesia.

A panel of judges at the Tokyo High Court on Tuesday (13/7) acquitted 2 Indonesian citizens with the initials A and I on charges of smuggling methamphetamine into Japan in 2019. Previously at the trial in the first instance, A and I were found guilty and sentenced to 6 years in prison and a fine of 2 million Yen each.

Indonesian Ambassador to Japan, Heri Akhmadi, as reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday (19/7), welcomed the verdict of the Tokyo High Court which had released both Indonesian citizens. He also appreciated the hard work of the Indonesian Citizen Protection Team of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo along with a team of lawyers who for 2 years provided legal assistance for both of them.

Ambassador Heri Akhmadi further stated that the protection of Indonesian citizens in Japan will continue to be an important priority for his mission in Japan. He also emphasized that A and I have gone through a legal process in Japan, considering that all Indonesian citizens while abroad are required to comply with local laws. In the future, according to Ambassador Heri, cases A and I can be a lesson not to easily trust people who are not known and want to leave their goods abroad.

Both Indonesian citizens were repatriated to Indonesia on Saturday (17/7). Before returning to Indonesia, they stayed at the Indonesian Embassy Protection shelter in Tokyo. They were even facilitated to take a walk in downtown Tokyo and buy souvenirs for their family. Both of them expressed their gratitude for the support and assistance of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, since being arrested by the Japanese police and spending days in prisons in Chiba and Tokyo, until the trial process. Facilitated by the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, A and I always receive news and encouragement from their families in Indonesia.

Indonesian Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Sujatmiko appealed for Indonesian migrant workers who are in Brunei Darussalam to obey the laws and regulations applied by the local government.  When opening a dialogue with the theme "Rules of Immigration, Employment and Human Trafficking  in Brunei Darussalam"  at the Indonesian Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan on Sunday (18/7), Ambassador Sujatmiko stated that it’s necessary for Indonesian people, particularly Indonesian migrant workers, to understand and obey legal provisions in Brunei Darussalam. This reflects the success in working in the country.

Furthermore, Ambassador Sujatmiko also explained that the Indonesian Embassy will always remind Indonesian citizens in Brunei Darussalam to continuously obey the laws and regulations. He also shared the same dialogue when he met Indonesian citizens in Temburong and Tutong districts.  The dialogue was also attended by hundreds of Indonesian people in Brunei Darussalam; most of them are migrant workers who are working in various sectors, such as seafarers, architects, consultants, chefs and home assistants.

The interest of Indonesian Embassy in providing information and socialization of protection for Indonesian citizens and Indonesian migrant workers is related to the various problems they face, such as cases of detention of workers whose contracts have expired, changing employers, and unpaid salaries.

The meeting of Ambassador Sujatmiko with Indonesian citizens and Indonesian migrant workers is a routine activity to help and accommodate them in Brunei Darussalam.