Scientists develop a rapid test for Covid19

Scientists from Oxford University and Oxford Suzhou Centre for Advanced Research (OSCAR) have developed a rapid testing technology for Covid19.

The new test is fast, it gives the result in just half an hour, and does not need a complicated instrument. Moreover the technology is very sensitive, so it detects infections also at early stages, potentially helping to reduce the spread of the Covid19.

‘The beauty of this new test lies in the design of the viral detection that can specifically recognise SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) RNA and RNA fragments. The test has built-in checks to prevent false positives or negatives and the results have been highly accurate,’ Prof Wei Huang Said.

The technology requires a heat-block amplification, and the results can be read by the naked eye. This could make it useful in rural area or community healthcare centres.

To validate the technology, real clinical samples were used at Shenshen Louhou People’s Hospital in China. The Chinese hospital applied the detection kits on 16 clinic samples, including 8 positive and 8 negatives, and the tests were all successful.

‘I am proud of our team that have developed a useful technology and can make a contribution in combating CoV-19, and we are very grateful to the hospital’s medical team led by Dr Xizhou Sun, Dr Xiuming Zhang and Dr Dan Xiong for their part in testing this new technology,’ Prof Zhanfeng Cui, Director of OSCAR, said.

The scientists are now working on an integrated device to make the test available for clinics, airports, and home use. They are planning clinical validations within the UK and exploring options for the production of kits.

Adapted from: http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-03-18-oxford-scientists-develop-rapid-test...