There are five million antibody test kits currently on standby for the NHS because of a second test if you have got the coronavirus was approved by health officials today.
Public Health England Approved the New Test
One of the giant pharmaceutical companies, Abbot, has been given approval by the Public Health England as spotting 100% of those who had the coronavirus in their system. The test would be the second antibody that will be ratified in two days.
The approval of a kit made by Roche Diagnostics, Abbot last night, said that it had already begun shipping out the equipment to NHS laboratories nationwide in preparation for the massive tests to be given out to the first recipients within just a few days.
A spokesperson from the firm said that it has the capacity to provide five million tests in a span of one month within the United Kingdom "with immediate effect."
After weeks of disappointments, the test created by Abbot is the first to be given the green light to be ratified as accurate by the Public Health England. The tests are able to detect whether someone who has had the coronavirus and then recovered, which could mean that they may be already immune.
Already, the Department of Health is having talks with both firms about incorporating the kits into their own testing programs. While the NHS staff will most likely get access first, the soon will be sure to follow. The Abbot test is already being sold for private use, which would cost the customer around £69 or $84.
Important Things To Note
PHE has said that the ratification of the two tests performed saw a "very positive development." Both of the tests are going to be used as a "test, track, and trace" program, which will be launching later next week. Scientists, as well as researchers, have stressed that although the two tests offer valuable information about who was infected, it is still not clear what proportion of them will be immune to the virus once again.
The hopes for these kits would help bring back the norm for people and could be a sign for them to work once again. Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, has ordered 3.5 million tests, but it turns out that the best of them could only spot about 70% of those who had been infected.
The tests resolve that the problem is using proven-lab based technology rather than using "pregnancy-test" style kits, which Hancock has previously hoped for would be a success. Abbot tests produce fewer false positives, which would be crucial against the fight against COVID-19.
Professor Matt Keeling from the University of Warwick said, "This could be a complete game-changer.' It is expected that both tests will eventually be available for free as part of the national testing program, though it is not clear whether people will be able to simply order them."
