RE: True Value: £1bn, SP £1517 Sep 2020 21:44
Centralised and decentralised testing markets
COVID-19 continues to present Novacyt with a significant opportunity to place rapid mobile instruments where the shortage of testing capacity and limitations of laboratory-based testing is driving healthcare away from large centralised platforms into decentralised more flexible platforms. Beyond COVID-19, Novacyt believes there is the potential for a long-term shift in testing policy towards decentralisation. With the launch of Novacyt's near-patient testing system in July 2020, the Company is well positioned to address this drive towards rapid, decentralised testing.
The pandemic has also highlighted the limitations of closed testing systems (platforms which are only compatible with tests supplied by the instrument manufacturerer) in centralised laboratories where availability of tests and related consumables has been limited and has, therefore, impacted utilisation of testing capacity. The Company believes healthcare providers will identify a need to have more open systems (platforms which are compatible with tests from a variety of suppliers) along with a decentralised testing policy. Both shifts in policy would play to core strengths of Novacyt.