LONDON (UK) – Scientists from Britain’s University of Oxford have developed a rapid COVID-19 test that will identify the coronavirus in less than five minutes, researchers said on Thursday. They also added that it could be used in mass testing at airports and businesses.
The university said it hoped to start developing the product, which is the testing device in early 2021 and have an approved device available six months afterwards.
The researchers said in a pre-print study that the device will detect the coronavirus and distinguish it from other viruses with high accuracy.
Professor Achilles Kapanidis, at Oxford’s Department of Physics, said, “Our method quickly detects intact virus particles,.” He added that this meant the test would be “simple, extremely rapid, and cost-effective”.
Siemens Healthineers on Wednesday announced a rapid antigen test kit in Europe to detect coronavirus infections, but a surge in demand would keep the industry struggle.
Although the Oxford platform will be ready only next year, the tests could help deal with the pandemic in time for next winter. Health officials have given warning that the world will need to learn to live with the coronavirus even if a vaccine is developed.
Dr Nicole Robb, of Warwick Medical School, said, “A significant concern for the upcoming winter months is the unpredictable effects of co-circulation of SARS-CoV-2 with other seasonal respiratory viruses.”
“We have shown that our assay (test) can reliably distinguish between different viruses in clinical samples, a development that offers a crucial advantage in the next phase of the pandemic.”