Researchers in Newcastle have created a Covid-19 test that's quicker than a PCR test and 6,000 times more accurate than a lateral flow test (LFT) - and they've only been able to do that thanks to a huge "bank" of Covid-19 samples from patients in our area.
The test has been developed this year and was first announced in April. Researchers have now explained that thousands of samples from patients - both Covid-19 positive and negative - had been essential in perfecting it. The test, or "biosensor", is able to detect far smaller amounts of Covid-19 virus than a LFT but without requiring extensive scientific equipment like a PCR test does.
The North East Innovation Lab - which is run by the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust and used to be part of the Integrated Covid Hub North East (ICHNE) - houses a "biobank" with around 20,000 samples. These range from blood and saliva to other samples obtained through swab testing.
