Scientists from the University of Oxford have developed a new test to detect and treat the Coronavirus, which has results about three times faster than other methods currently being tested. Specifically, the test can provide results in just 30 minutes, while the fastest modern methods that focus on viral RNA, like this test, have results within 1.5-2 hours. At the same time, relatively simple equipment is required both to conduct the test and to interpret the results, which makes it possible to develop it even in facilities that lack specialized equipment and staff. In addition to these benefits, the researchers who developed the test state that this could even contribute to the detection of patients who are in the early stages of infection with the Coronavirus, unlike other methods. Another important feature of this test is that its results can be read with the “naked” eye, which makes it more accessible to a wider range of healthcare facilities and professionals.
The new tests have already been validated using real clinical samples of the virus at the Luohou People's Hospital of Shenzhen in China , and although they have only been used on 16 samples so far, they have demonstrated a 100% success rate, which is a very reassuring and optimistic result.
The biggest impact of this test, if it proves effective, is that it manages to bypass some of the limitations of other methods. Scientists now have to isolate COVID-19 RNA and then perform a process through which the RNA is essentially converted into DNA, followed by testing the DNA in microbiology laboratories by experts using a specialized machine to perform polymerase chain reaction.
In addition, the team that developed this test is working on the possibility of making it even more flexible with a comprehensive hardware design, making it possible to use it in clinics, airports and even at home.
This is, however, still an early technology coming out of a lab, which means that there are still some steps required before it is approved for widespread use.
It is worth noting that the US is currently far behind other countries in terms of its testing efforts, with the White House confirming that just 60,000 tests were conducted yesterday based on existing data.
Finally, testing is only focusing on the most severe and obvious cases of Coronavirus, meaning that cases that do not show obvious symptoms are not being tested. This has a huge impact on any effort to accurately track the transmission of COVID-19 and therefore identify the impact of measures taken to limit its spread, such as isolation, social distancing and shelter-in-place tactics.
