Image: Nanopore Tech
Tests can detect virus in 90 minutes and do not require trained professionals, government says
The government has announced plans to roll out two “rapid” coronavirus tests developed by scientists at Imperial College London and the University of Oxford in time for the winter.
Millions of the tests—which are reportedly able to detect the virus in 90 minutes—will be made available to NHS hospitals, care homes and laboratories, the Department of Health and Social Care announced on 3 August.
The tests are said to be able to detect both Covid-19 and other winter viruses, and they do not require trained health professionals to operate them.
“The fact these tests can detect flu as well as Covid-19 will be hugely beneficial as we head into winter, so patients can follow the right advice to protect themselves and others,” said health secretary Matt Hancock.
A total of 5,000 NudgeBox machines, supplied by the Imperial spinout company DnaNudge, will be distributed across UK hospitals, with each machine able to process up to 15 tests on the spot each day. The tests use DnaNudge’s patented NudgeBox analyser, which was originally developed to provide on-the-spot genetic testing to ‘nudge’ consumers towards healthier lifestyle choices.
“The DnaNudge team worked with incredible speed and skill during the peak of the pandemic to deliver this highly accurate, rapid Covid-19 test, which requires absolutely no laboratory or pipettes and can be deployed anywhere with a direct sample-to-result in around just over an hour,” said Chris Toumazou, chief executive and co-founder of DnaNudge and founder of the institute of biomedical engineering at Imperial College London.
Meanwhile, 450,000 LamPORE tests, developed by the Oxford spinout company Nanopore, are set to be distributed next week across adult care settings, NHS laboratories and lighthouse laboratories, with millions more to be rolled out later in the year. These tests use a method called RT-LAMP to identify and amplify the virus in an original sample, as well as sequencing technology to precisely identify the virus.
“LamPORE has the potential to deliver a highly effective and, crucially, accessible global testing solution, not only for Covid-19 but for a range of other pathogens,” said Gordon Sanghera, chief executive of Oxford Nanopore. “Ever since we founded Oxford Nanopore, our mission has been to create disruptive, high-performance technology that has a profound, positive impact on society.”
Elsewhere, the government has announced that it is partnering with the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Wockhardt to increase capacity in the manufacturing process for Covid-19 vaccines.
The 18-month agreement means the company will carry out the “fill and finish” stage of the manufacturing process, which involves dispensing the manufactured vaccine substance into vials ready for it to be distributed. The work is expected to start in September at CP Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Wockhardt based in Wrexham.