A ground-breaking test for the potentially fatal 2019-nCoV strain of coronavirus is in the final stages of development at global health diagnostics company Randox Laboratories. The soon-to-be-launched test, developed on Randox’s patented Biochip Technology, will be available for immediate 2019-nCoV testing, but an additional enhanced multiplex array will also include tests for other respiratory viruses which can display the same symptoms. The new enhanced Biochip will therefore allow clinicians quickly and efficiently to differentiate between potentially lethal and non-lethal infections.
Dr Peter FitzGerald (Randox Laboratories’ MD) commented: “Current technologies for the diagnosis of coronavirus are designed simply to detect the presence or lack of 2019-nCoV, and therefore neglect to differentiate between this strain and other respiratory infections. Whilst we’re very quickly developing an efficient, novel test for this new strain of coronavirus, we are therefore also working on an extended Viral Respiratory Infection Array that will test simultaneously for 2019-nCoV and a range of other viruses. This will eliminate the need for multiple back-and-forth tests before the root cause of symptoms is found, and empower clinicians to make fast and informed decisions.”
The test will be available within three hours for the Vivalytic point-of-care analyser, and within five hours on the Randox Evidence Investigator.