‘Pregnancy style’ tests could give coronavirus results within half an hour, Scots researchers have said.
Aberdeen University and biologics company Elasmogen Limited have been given Scottish Government funding to develop the tests.
The researchers will use a process which has been successful in cancer therapy.
They hope to produce a pregnancy-like ‘dip’ test which can deliver results from just a few drops of blood from a finger prick within 30 minutes.
Elasmogen chief executive Dr Caroline Barelle, who is also an honorary research fellow at the university, said: “Current diagnostic testing for COVID-19 – so called RT-PCR for infectious agents – is accurate but complex to perform.
“It requires centralised laboratories, typically takes between four and 24 hours to complete and requires shipment of clinical samples from drive through and other collection centres.
“Point-of-care (PoC) or bedside tests are urgently needed to accelerate clinical decision-making and reduce the workload of test laboratories.”
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