Press/Media: Newspaper Article
| Title | Innovative new 20-minute COVID-19 test begins large-scale testing |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
| Date | 28/01/21 |
| Description | A new, highly accurate COVID-19 test, Virus Hunter 6 (VH6), developed by three leading universities – Lancaster University, Brunel University London and the University of Surrey – in collaboration with commercial partner Vidiia Ltd, and which delivers results in under 20 minutes, is being trialled across the University of Surrey. Dr Muhammad Munir, Molecular Virologist at Lancaster University, said: “Backed by an innovative technology, strong institutional collaboration and a vibrant industrial partner, the testing of a smart diagnostic platform on the University of Surrey campus is a step closer to offering a fast and reliable diagnostic test for early detection of COVID-19 infections in multiple communities.” The test has been shown to be 99 per cent accurate in lab trials and has been developed for use as a mass point-of-care product in large settings such as universities, airports, and care homes. The device can test up to six samples simultaneously and uses LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification – which is more rapid and easier to perform than PCR) technology, a single-tube technique that amplifies the nucleic acid of the virus using nasal and oral swab samples. A unique buffer used in the device reduces processing time, makes handling samples much safer and removes the need to send samples to a laboratory. This state-of-the-art device uses a mixture of swab samples, image processors and AI, all shared with a mobile app, which reduces testing times and possible errors with result interpretation. |
| Persons | Muhammad Munir |