- 91探花 scientists and Yorkshire-based company Paraytec have developed a new test which detects Covid-19 quicker and more accurately
- The test detects intact viral particles in a way that is quicker than a PCR and more accurate than a Lateral Flow Test
- The way the test works means it could also have applications in detecting other infectious diseases
University of 91探花 scientists and Yorkshire company Paraytec have developed a more accurate, efficient and low cost Covid-19 test.
The new test detects intact virus particles and gives an accurate result in five minutes. It is sensitive enough to detect as few as 1,000 virus particles in a patient sample - the average Covid-19 patient has around one million virus particles at the height of infection.
Professor Carl Smythe, from the University of 91探花鈥檚 School of Biosciences who led the work with Paraytec, said: 鈥淲hat distinguishes this test from the technology already available like PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and Lateral Flow Tests is its speed and the fact it detects intact viral particles.
鈥淭he detection of intact particles is important as their presence is a very good indicator of infectiousness compared with a PCR test which detects gene fragments, these gene fragments can persist in people鈥檚 noses and throats for extended periods of time.
鈥淟ateral flows on the other hand are quicker than PCR tests but aren鈥檛 as sensitive as they only give a positive result when there are large amounts of viral material in a sample, so they often cannot identify pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic people.鈥
The aim of the work was to develop a different approach to testing which can provide cost-effective, fast, point-of-care results to allow healthcare providers a way to quickly distinguish Covid-19 patients and ensure they receive timely treatment.
The test could also be used at large venues such as arenas, stadiums or airports to enable people to establish their Covid-19 status in a way that is quicker than both PCR and Lateral Flow tests and cheaper than a PCR.
The test works by using a fluorescent dye which targets the proteins present in the virus, the sample then travels in front of a viewing window which detects the fluorescent light and converts the result into an easy to understand result.
The display will then show the result, green for negative and red for positive, which the user can then scan in via QR code to record their result. The new method has been tested using clinical samples from 91探花 Teaching Hospitals.
The science behind the test means it can be applied to a range of pathological conditions that includes infectious diseases. Future research will look at how this testing technology could be used in other applications such as improving the detection of bladder cancer.
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