EDITOR’S CHOICE
UPSCALING TESTING CAPACITY
SURREY UNIVERSITY
Scientists developing point of care COVID-19 test
A team of scientists from the University of
Surrey, Lancaster University and Brunel
University are developing an easy-to-use
test that can inform people if they have
COVID-19 in just half an hour.
The proposed molecular test and
smartphone app would let people who are
self-isolating test themselves, and allow
health care workers test both patients and
themselves – helping the UK to dramatically
upscale its testing capacity.
The battery-operated, hand-held device is
simple and straightforward to use: nasal or
throat swabs are placed into the device;
then, in 30 minutes, it can identify whether
the individual has COVID-19. The samples do
not need to go to a laboratory and the same
device can test six people at once.
The science behind the test has been
used and evaluated in the Philippines
to check chickens for viral and bacterial
infections. The UK-based team is adapting
the Philippines method to detect COVID-19
in humans and is calling on backers to help
them mass-produce the kits.
The team is also working on adding
a telemedicine functionality to the mobile
app that can control the device, track the
users’ movements and contact anyone who
has had a close interaction with the person
diagnosed to suggest steps to take in order
to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection and
spread.
The estimated cost of the device is
approximately £100 each to mass-produce
and about £25 to 6 samples.
Professor Roberto La Ragione, Deputy Head
of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the
University of Surrey, said: “We are delighted
to be involved in the development of rapid
diagnostic tools for Covid-19. With a fast
response from manufacturers, we could
deliver a point-of-care test kit to support
mass-scale testing within the NHS and
globally.”
Professor Wamadeva Balachandran from
Brunel University London said: “Now that
With local hospitals’ help
we aim to do a limited
amount of testing using
positive and negative
samples that are currently
available.
we know multiple genomes of COVID-19,
we can develop the molecular test in a week
and have it up and running on the device in
three or four weeks. We are confident it will
perform well and we urgently need industrial
partners to come on board. This innovation
is set to have a huge impact on society.
“Normally, anything like this would have
to undergo extensive clinical trials, but
this is not a normal situation. Speed is
essential. With local hospitals’ help we
aim to do a limited amount of testing
using positive and negative samples that
are currently available. According to the
Imperial College model, this pandemic
might last for 18 months -- and cases
will rise over the next few months. The
new test would be a tremendous help in
easing the pressure on the healthcare
sector.”
Dr Muhammad Munir, Molecular
Virologist at Lancaster University, said:
“The team strongly believes that with
our combined expertise we will be able
to make this device and its associated
system available for adoption within a few
weeks, and take a step closer to beating
COVID-19.”
Manufacturers can contact [email protected]
18 PECM Issue 45