The UK Government has ordered one million Covid-19 tests from a consortium which includes Crumlin-BASED BBI Solutions.

This first order of lateral flow antibody tests (AbC-19) from the UK Rapid Test Consortium (UK-RTC) is part of the UK Government’s plans to roll-out surveillance studies to help build a picture of how the virus has spread across the country.

The AbC-19 Rapid test uses a drop of blood from a finger-prick, and shows results in 20 minutes, without the need for a patient sample to be sent to a laboratory.

The test is currently CE-Marked for professional use, and can be administered by healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists and healthcare workers, at the point-of-care. The UK-RTC are seeking approval from the MHRA for self-test use.

The consortium will draw on BBI Solutions’ rapid test development and expertise, as well as its wider manufacturing capabilities, primarily at its headquarters at Crumlin and its site in Edinburgh.

BBI Solutions is also working with healthcare providers to optimise its smartphone diagnostic reader to be used in conjunction with the test.
BBI’s patented Novarum technology will guide users at home through performing a test before providing the results with their healthcare provider.

Dr Mario Gualano, chief executive at BBI Solutions, said: “I am delighted that the UK-RTC has now received its first contract from the UK Government for our COVID-19 lateral flow antibody test.

“We believe that the AbC-19 Rapid test has the immediate opportunity to allow the UK to build a swift and clear picture of how the virus has spread throughout the population.

“It also has the potential to be deployed in conjunction with vaccine candidates to help assess initial immune responses.”