Member Info for BubblingUp

On R4 Today programme 6th November, Sir John Bell said "We've identified between 25 to 30 of brands of these tests {LFTs) which work really well... yeah all Chinese made (laughing)... there's one very good UK supplier , who's just completing MHRA approval for self test use; that will be very useful, but we're also on-shoring some of these so that the manufacturing is gonna occur in the UK, and when that happens we're really going to have security of supply."

Some people including myself thought the very good UK supplier could be us/Medusa while many thought it was ODX. It certainly doesn't look like ODX now!

So who is it if not us?

Agree Bein, shorting is despicable. Especially if it is a against a company that is trialling a revolutionary treatment for cancer. And in the run up to Christmas. Hopefully a bigger hedge fund will short the @rse out of Bronte, as per Jupiter.

For some reason it reminds me of the old saying, "There is honour among thieves".

ODX seem to be in a perpetual limbo, waiting to be told which test they have to manufacture with Government -loaned equipment. I would still see Medusa/Avacta as top contender.

Is there any evidence that Surescreen developed their test in the UK? Or Randox for that matter.

Sir John Bell said "We've identified between 25 to 30 of brands of these tests {LFTs) which work really well... yeah all Chinese made (laughing)... there's one very good UK supplier , who's just completing MHRA approval for self test use; that will be very useful, but we're also on-shoring some of these so that the manufacturing is gonna occur in the UK, and when that happens we're really going to have security of supply."

Could well be Medusa IMO..

Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP
"@grantshapps
TRAVEL UPDATE: we’re making testing easier for travel LuggageSyringe From Mon 4 Oct, if you’re fully vax you won’t need a pre-departure test before arrival into England from a non-red country and FROM LATER IN OCT, will be able to replace the day 2 PCR test with a cheaper lateral flow." (My caps)

What should we make of this reference to a 'cheaper LF' and why is it later in October? I would love to think it refers to the Home Use Approval for the Avacta/ Medusa LFT. Or is it just another in a long series of false dawns from HMG.

Just for info, from the BBC reports today I believe this antibody study is an alternative version of the one being carried out by Biobank, which I took part in recently. In my case, the trigger for the first of the two antibody tests was a recent second vaccination. I was sent an Abingdon AbC-19 lateral flow test (The one the Government didn't pay them for!). The sample was from a pinprick of blood. I had a positive response, which I reported online. This meant I had antibodies from the vaccine.

Some time later I was invited to undertake another self-administered test. This was to show whether I had a different kind of antibody, which would indicate if I had been infected with Covid some time in the past. This was a different test kit entirely, not a lateral flow cassette. It involve a pinprick again, and the massaging of the finger to squeeze a couple of ml of blood into a tube. This sample was returned tin an envelope, and the result was emailed to me a few days later. This time it was negative.

The study described by the BBC said the first test was was to look for antibodies from a previous vaccination. The second test was for antibodies from the infection indicated by the positive PCR test. I reckon the tests kits will be the same two as those sent to me.

Incidentally, my wife had a negative result to the AbC-19 test, and she wasn't sent the second test as a consequence. The negative result isn't uncommon, but apparently the T cell response can be more important for immunity than antibodies.

https://m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/amp/entry/chinese-made-covid-tests-exempted-from-new-uk-mandatory-safety-standards-law_uk_61058987e4b00fa7af834913/?nh=&__twitter_impression=true

One thing that interested me was the data he read out from the official weekly spreadsheet. He had weekly figures for the number of tests that were registered by the users. First week of July there were approx. 5 million registered. 2 million of these were done by schoolchildren, 3 million by the general population. The most in any week was 6/7.5 million in March when the schools went back. You can find the audio on BBC Sounds Schedules, 5 Live Breakfast, at 2:05:30 on.

So for the month of July we could say 4x5 = 20 million approx. It's interesting to compare this 'demand/actual' figure with the 'supply/ capacity' figures quoted by AS recently. IIRC he said 5 rising to 30 million in UK and another 30M possible from APAC region sources. So it seems that even allowing for a large amount of wastage the AS figures could work, given enough time for the ramp up and with the Innova tests gradually consigned to the trashcan.

"Yet, even after the huge investments of the past year and high hopes in the field, there are still fundamental questions about the basic efficacy of some of the take-at-home tests.

“We’re in this ridiculous state where people are being invited to test themselves twice a week with a test that’s really unreliable,” says Will Irving, professor of virology at Nottingham university, referring to the lateral flow devices. “If you get a negative result it doesn’t mean you haven’t got it, if you get a positive result, it doesn’t mean you’ve got it.”

Pity there isn't a reliable version test available in the near future...

https://www.lateralflowtest.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MHRA-Approval.pdf
This is from the MHRA in reply to an application to register the Flowflex LFD as posted by me almost a couple of weeks ago. The application letter was submitted to MHRA on Monday 25 Jan 2021 and this letter of registration is dated Wednesday 10 Feb 2021. That is 2 calendar weeks plus 2 days between submission and registration.

So if we can match that we should hear from AS on Wednesday. Anything before that is a bonus.

https://www.lateralflowtest.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MHRA-Approval.pdf

This is from the MHRA in reply to an application to register the Flowflex LFD as discussed a few threads below, The application letter was received by MHRA on 25 Jan 2021 and this letter of registration is dated 10 Feb 2021. Hope Avacta are being fast tracked.. .

Boris is launching a charm offensive to keep the Scots onside the Union, ODX could benefit.

Yes, the first link I gave was published 8th March 2021. It gives a value of 4B and is described as a Tender Notice. It has a Deadline of 08 April 2021 and a Delivery of 08 April 2025.

The second link I gave was published 19th March 2021. It is described as an Addendum Notice and the value is blank (-). There is no response deadline or delivery date.
You can see the two contract notices listed together at https://bidstats.uk/tenders/medical-products/?region=UKI

There is no value stated either?

This one appears to be an update. The delivery and deadline dates have been removed. https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2021/W11/747110887

This one? https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2021/W10/746389838

One AS reference to the above was just about the only pointer in the Investors Meet session to the tsunami of cash that we are are anticipating will overwhelm AVCT in the coming days .

Anyone know if there has been a run on fountain pens in the Wetherby environs yet?

D-Geeman, my wife also came back negative - after two AZ vaccinations - which she was pretty miffed about. I came back positive, also after two ZX vaccinations. There was a video, which sought to reassure those testing negative, but what it means remains a mystery.