TTG11 Sep 2020 08:59
Daily Mail this morning -
Virolens is a screening device that uses a digital camera attached to a microscope to analyse saliva samples, giving results in 20 seconds.
It's developed by British start–up iAbra, with design and manufacturing expertise from TT Electronics and technology powered by Intel, and is about to embark on clinical trials which is necessary for it to be certified for medical use.
Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye is urging the Government to fast track the test following a successful three-week trial at Heathrow Airport as part of the Government's Condor programme.
He said today: 'Testing for Covid-19 is the lifeline that the UK economy needs to get back on its feet.
'I have experienced iAbra's test myself, alongside the PCR test - it is quicker and cheaper, and potentially more accurate.'
People swab saliva from their cheek and tongue before placing the sample in a cartridge that is analysed by the device, cutting the need for a laboratory.
The Virolens system reportedly has a 99.8 per cent sensitivity, which means almost every single person who tests positive is truly infected, and there are no 'false negatives' - when someone is wrongly told they do not have the coronavirus.
And the test has 96.7 per cent specificity, based on the results of a study at the University of Bristol, meaning just over three in every 100 people will get a 'false positive' result — when people are incorrectly led to believe they have virus.
The company said the test does not need to be carried out by a healthcare professional, making it useful for airports, stadium and music venues.
Each screening device is capable of carrying out hundreds of tests per day. The Telegraph reports each unit can test some 1,650 people per day, and 15,000 units are in the pipeline for production
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