COVID-19 Research pipeline – Diagnostics

COVID-19 Research pipeline – Diagnostics

The COVID diagnostics programme at CDD is enrolling patients suspected of COVID-19 for diagnostic evaluation and Dr Emily Adams’s team has become the UK evaluation site for FIND, a programme which runs multiple rapid diagnostics for antigen detection, to rapidly identify active infection.

The programme works in partnership with industry that has developed a new rapid test to detect the presence of Coronavirus (COVID-19). Currently, the NHS uses the best test available to detect the
virus using a nasal swab. The current test can take up to 4 days before the results are available which
can lead to an extended amount of time in quarantine or a prolonged amount of time grouped with
other patients that are suspected to have Coronavirus increasing the potential for hospital transmission.

The new tests need to be validated against the current best practice. The programme needs to use the tests with real samples to check if they are as accurate as the current test. If successful, this study may change practice and policy allowing for early detection and appropriate isolation of patients.