Scientists from the University of Oxford’s Engineering Science Department and the Oxford Suzhou Centre for Advanced Research have developed a rapid testing technology for the novel corona virus (COVID-19). The team, led by Professor Zhanfeng Cui and Professor Wei Huang, have been working to improve testing capabilities as the virus spreads internationally.
The new test is much faster than those being used at present and does not require complicated or expensive instruments in its administration. While previous viral tests for COVID-19 took 1.5 to 2 hours to give a result, the new test developed by Professors Cui and Huang is capable of giving a result in just half an hour.
Prof Wei Huang says: “The beauty of this new test lies in the design of the viral detection system that can specifically recognise SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) [Ribonucleic acid] and RNA fragments. The test has built-in checks to prevent false positives or negatives and the results have been highly accurate.”
In addition to providing a result far faster than current tests, the technology behind the test is more sensitive, meaning that patients in early stages of infection may be identified sooner. Moreover, the test requires only a simple heat-block which maintains a constant temperature to be administered. Finally, the results of the RNA reverse transcription and subsequent DNA amplification can be read by the naked eye, making the test particularly useful in rural areas or less well-equipped community healthcare centres.
The technology has been validated against real clinical samples obtained from Shenzhen Luohou People’s Hospital in China.
The scientists are now working to develop an integrated device so that the test can be used at clinics, airports, or even at home.
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