The UK Government has entered into a contract with Abingdon Health, on behalf of the UK-Rapid Test Consortium (UK-RTC), for the supply of the AbC-19 Rapid Antibody tests. As part of the contract the UK Government has placed its first order for one million Covid-19 rapid antibody tests.

This first order is part of the UK Government’s plans to roll out Covid-19 surveillance studies to help build a picture of how the virus has spread across the country.

The AbC-19 Rapid test uses a small drop of blood from a finger prick, and shows results in twenty 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.

Crumlin based BBI Solutions, a leading manufacturer of biological reagents and finished test platforms for the in-vitro diagnostics market, is a partner of the UK-RTC.

In a press release, they said 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 closely 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 securely providing the results with their healthcare provider.

Dr Mario Gualano, CEO of 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.”

Photo: Dr Mario Gualano. Image Credit: HUW JOHN, Cardiff 19/05/2020 BBI Solutions mail@huwjohn.com www.huwjohn.com M: 07860 256991 Instagram: huwjohn_uk