Member Info for Poidster

Antibody testing prob going to become more important than antigen testing over time

@Hartlebury
In all honesty, probably not, certainly not initially. The issue is contamination, particularly cross contamination. Because Q32 is so sensitive, down to 4 copies of the virus, which in itself is staggering you need scrupulously clean prep areas.
If each establishment had a versalab that would help significantly.
Once suitably trained and competent, operators could look at pooling.
If you pooled in batches of 10 (just an arbitrary number not a recommendation) you could theoretically screen 300 pupils in 90 mins.
If testing using saliva is validated for the Q32, that would make it a lot easier and probably receive less pushback from pupils and parents alike.

Pooling of samples to increase throughput is, i won't say widespread, but is used already, mainly when screening large volumes of asymptomatic people, can be problematic, especially if the pool groups are too large but I know it's viability for covid has been investigated. Not sure of the official outcome or position from PHE is

This is why there's been a lot of concern about the South African variant, this is really bad news and it could keep happening

This is why there's been a lot of concern about the South African variant, this is really bad news and it could keep happening

The longer this goes on, the more we will see this, hoping the vaccine still works and it doesn't turn more pathogenic. It may only take 6 weeks to produce another vaccine, how long to revaccinate the population again.

This is great news, I know lots of ppl who will be very happy with this news. Plus it means the roll out of the q32s bought by nhse can start to be put to proper use.
Also q32 has been validated using NP swabs in viral transport media VTM, probably doesn't mean much to the masses but means extra flexibility in processing samples at the lab end

Seeing a few messages posted regarding seasonality with Covid.

The evidence suggest that covid doesn't follow the same seasonality patterns at flu. It will be a year round threat. Flu season starts November December time peaks in January February then tails off towards Easter time.
Covid won't do this, its currently running rampant in Africa, where daily temps now are above 20°C so there's nothing to suggest heat will have an impact.

So there will be a high year round demand for testing, globally.
So even if NYCT were a 1 trick pony, which it isn't but was suggested yesterday there will be a massive demand which by itself would generate significant revenues for a well placed company with a reliable test. Just wanted to put this out there

I must admit I'm starting to get more concerned about Covid the longer this goes on, as it passes from person to person, it mutates all the time, its what viruses do, if it jumps a species it changes even more, its also quite unusual and difficult normally for viruses to do this, its already jumped from a pangolin to human, human to mink and mink back to human. Most of the mutations have no noticeable effect, sometimes they do.
There's usually no way to predict any of this, we've seen 1 mutation that increases the transmission rate, if we see a mutation that increases the mortality rate, even just by a couple of % we are in deep ****.
Then again, mutates and becomes harmless. Just spit balling, I have no idea why either!!

Came across this article, conclusion appears that saliva is an acceptable replacement for naso pharyngeal swabs.
This should make sample collection so much easier and the patient can sample the test themselves, without the need for trained person in full PPE to take the sample. Saw earlier in the week about a tender for tubes and funnels being awarded. Quite possible that these 2 items are related
https://twitter.com/EricTopol/status/1348758183846703104?s=19

Its been clear for quite a while now that COVID is going to be endemic in the global population. Once a virus with a high transmission rate becomes this widespread its never going away, it will also continue to mutate, so any diagnostics will need to be agile enough to change its tests in a timely manner to keep up.
Novyact has shown already that they have that capability

That was in a different thread. No i have not a shred of evidence to substantiate anything I've said

Winter plex damn autocorrect

Wintergreen been deployed, numbers will increase tests for flu types A & B, RSV and COVID, essential when patients present to AED in respiratory distress

Exactly, from airports to workplace, carehomes and so on.
PROmate should make it v easy to use and then it would be a POCT, 1 machine 30 results of high quality after 90 mins

PROmate as it turns out has been trialled in the London labs since it's release. Its now due to be rolled out to the remaining English labs in the next 'few weeks'
Appreciate I'm new, this is a chat board, take or leave this info as you see fit. I've got no agenda I'm not ramping or de ramping just sharing some insights. As always DYOR

I was referring to the additional analysers bought by PHE not the existing main analysers in situ

Hi Shaun thanks in terms of your questions, (Please bear in mind this is just my opinion)
"non lighthouse labs, may have simply given up with the ~Q32"
I can't see the q32 being used in the main 44 NHS Labs? (can you?)
Can or can't ?. In its current guise its never going to be used in a main diagnostic micro lab, it was bought as a POCT, which its not either. However with an improved workflow, yes I can see that happening. definitely short term
More likely to be using the Thermo-fisher Flex instruments (larger instruments?), yes and the panther too. there are other mainstream analysers but the thing to remember that most of these analysers were fully utilised prior to COVID so capacity is an issue, also, the main analysers are significantly more expensive than the Q32. I think the Gov has bought these as a stop gap to provide (or report!) increased potential capacity, optics seem important to this Gov.

Otherwise, why have we got the Exsig mag? (any forum views) ~ dunno sorry
Interesting to note that it is the "consumables" that are causing some of the disruption
We thought "staff training & availability" was more of an issue?

Probably a combination of both tbh but I'd still lean towards lack of appropriate kit being more of an issue .
Its worth bearing in mind that the guys working at the coal face in this area have been flat out since the beginning of last year to try to manage this, with little or no extra staff, this sits on top of their existing workload.
If they are then presented with an analyser that isnt easy to use (Q32 atm) there is more than a reasonable chance they will tell you to shove it, come back when its fixed.

Ultimately though I think you are probably correct, The Q32 was marketed originally as a research tool nad its being adapted to fill a need atm but it wont replaced bespoke analysers nor is that their intention I would surmise.
Again, this is all just my opinion based on research and a modicum of understanding in this area.
Just trying to offer some insights

Many of the other, non lighthouse labs, may have simply given up with the ~Q32 until the new improved workflow PROmate option becomes widely available, they are all using upto 6 or 7 different analysers atm concurrently to accomodate their covid testing. ie the Nudge etc. I also know that supplies for these analysers are seveley restricted atm, some labs reporting that they are only allocated 10 tests per day for the rapid turnaround machines by PHE.
I think, I stress think, supplies to service all of these analysers are in short supply, its possible that the bulk of the promate kits are going to service the lighthouse labs and NHS labs in the high incidence COVID areas.
I know the availability of the correct sample tubes for Q32 has been an issue, this looks like its being addressed by the recent tender that someone posted for consumables on here recently.
Its worth pointing out that all the analysers currently in use by NHS labs are sub optimal, many are single test capability 1 test per machine every few hours or a long cycle time >4hrs for the multi test machines.
The Q32 addresses these issues. There is a global shortage due to demand for the correct consumables.
This is being addressed and availability issues will lessen over time. I still think these are minor issues and with Novayct now being embedded in the NHS suppliers catalogue and other tests, ie the Covid antibody coming on line, which is soon going to be as valuable, if not more so, than the antigen test, the future looks blue.
Just FYI, I only recently bought into NYCT on Friday, hence newbie poster but after doing research thought they were undervalued. but looks like I got in just in time

If promate is available now, its not that widely available, this may just be distribution issue, either way it will filter its way through in due course so its not a cause for concern