Large scale trials have begun on an 'on the spot' coronavirus test which can provide results in 20 minutes, the Government has said.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the test, which doesn't need to be sent to a lab, had already 'proven effective in early trials'.
Earlier this week the government announced anyone over the age of five who has Covid-19 symptoms is now eligible for testing. And speaking at today's daily briefing Mr Hancock said if successful the test, produced by West Sussex-based Optigene, will be rolled out 'as soon as we can'.
He said: "Getting a test is improtant but getting a quick result is important too. We're working hard on innovative developments.
"Working with innovative science always has its risks and not all projects come off. Working for instance with vaccines, where we don't know if we'll ever get one.
"But I am prepared to back innovative developments even if they might never happen. I think it's worth it and I think it's worth it especially in these circumstances.
"We are working with many top names to help us deliver testing with a rapid turnaround. For example one innovative company, Optigene, has produced an early test which is being trialled from today and it is interesting to us because it is so fast.
"It doesn't need to be sent to a lab to be processed, so you get the result on the spot, typically in around 20 minutes. It's already proven effective in early trials and we want to find out if it will effective on a larger scale.
"And we want to support companies like Optigene and others to develop these sorts of innovative projects. We'll monitor its effectiveness very closely and if it works we'll roll it out as soon as we can.
"This is just one of a number of innovative testing technologies we're pushing forward as fast as the science allows."
On its website Optigene says the test uses nasal and throat swabs adding a single machine can process 300 patient samples in an hour.
