A ground-breaking test for the potentially fatal COVID-19 strain of coronavirus, has been developed at global health diagnostics company Randox Laboratories.
The deadly virus has claimed the lives of 1,700 people with tens of thousands more infected.
The test, developed on Randox’s patented Biochip Technology, will be available for immediate COVID-19 testing.
An additional enhanced multiplex array will also include tests for nine other respiratory viruses which can display the same symptoms.
An important part of the process, the analysers that perform the test are manufactured in the Dungloe plant.
The new enhanced Biochip will therefore allow clinicians to quickly and efficiently differentiate between potentially lethal and non-lethal infections.
Dr Peter FitzGerald, Managing Director of Randox Laboratories, said “Current technologies for the diagnosis of the new strain of coronavirus are designed simply to detect the presence or lack of COVID-19, 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 COVID-19 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 for the Point of Care analyser, the Vivalytic, within 3 hours, and within 5 hours on the Randox Evidence Investigator.
