Scientists have developed a revolutionary new device that could test patients’ antibody response to Covid-19 in as little as seven minutes.
The pioneering new Triple Antibody Test, has been produced by the University of Exeter spin-out company Attomarker Ltd and is set to spearhead the next-generation of rapid and accurate antibody testing.
While traditional tests that require laboratory analysis can take up to 72 hours, the device is able to deliver quick and accurate quantitative results in just seven minutes.
Following successful trials from an initial patient study at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London conducted earlier this year, the test device has received approval by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency.
Crucially, the Attomarker technology is being developed into a miniaturised hand-held “pocket laboratory” - that can be docked to a smartphone - to provide accurate testing at point-of-care, including care homes and pharmacies.
Scientists carried out 119 tests over an initial five-day period, investigating the performance of the antibody test on 74 admitted patients from an early stage of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Further analysis with an additional 200 patients shows that Attomarker’s Triple Antibody test delivers a sensitivity of up to 96 per cent in detecting Covid-19 antibodies - including in patients who previously presented negative swab tests.
Attomarker has also begun further testing at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in Exeter for a combined coronavirus/flu antibody test – in order for healthcare professionals to differentiate between patients with the two infections.
Professor Andrew Shaw, Attomarker founder and associate professor of physical chemistry at the University of Exeter, said: “The Attomarker team are excited with the high sensitivity and specificity results of our patented new triple-antibody testing technology.
“We are proud to be working alongside the St Thomas’ Hospital and Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital to test our technology including the combination Covid-19/flu test ahead of the winter season, and we look forward to sharing results from this crucial study in due course.”
Professor Chris Hyde, director of the Exeter Test Group at the University of Exeter’s College for Medicine and Health, added: “I’m delighted to see this exciting research progress to the next phase, towards speeding up Covid-19 testing and having significant benefits for patients and healthcare workers.”
