New rapid coronavirus test to be rolled out across care homes

A new rapid Coronavirus diagnosis tool is to be rolled out across care homes and laboratories from next week. The new test, which returns a result in 90 minutes, aims to cut the time it takes for a result down from what is, in many cases, over 24 hours.

The Government's track and trace program is one such area that is set to benefit as rapid testing allows trackers to break chains of transmission quickly, before the virus has a chance to spread.

The rollout of this test is set to vastly increase the number of places tests can be carried out in, potentially including workplaces, schools and public spaces; whereas previously results would be sent to testing hubs and labs to be verified.

Rapid diagnosis has never been more important; and this is significant step forward to reaching more instantaneous results that will be needed to halt the spread of the virus effectively.

Further new technology and biotech innovations will undoubtedly be needed to eradicate the virus from the general population. One of the issues at the moment is the gaps between testing and diagnosis and the lack of access to test for asymptomatic cases.

A test that can be carried out quickly, on a daily basis will allow effective self-isolation and control of the virus at an early stage. This especially applies to further rapid, mobile tests that can be used in homes or offices - reducing asymptomatic transmission."

Dr Linda Pomeroy, CEO of ANCON Medical

ANCON Medical's revolutionary Nanoparticle Biomarker Tagging (NBT) technology allows for quick, accurate and cheap diagnosis of serious illnesses such as lung cancer, with a huge reduction in the number of false positives compared to traditional diagnosis methods.

The technology works by analyzing a patient's breath to detect unique biological markers that indicate the presence of disease or illness, as well as the stage it is at. NBT technology can provide diagnoses in as little as ten minutes