DailyMail reports that a multitude of people could be saved and many unseemingly ill COVID-19 patients identified with the new "game-changer" in coronavirus blood tests.
Birmingham University's test is believed to offer a potentially massive breakthrough to the beaten economy as it can spot 98% of coronavirus cases, even those without symptoms.
Scientists are wary that most of the existing COVID-19 tests rely on antibodies, and are therefore only useful in detecting if the virus had been present at a time. Furthermore, other tests also only detect the coronavirus in very sick individuals, leaving those mildly infected unaware of their condition.
According to studies, eight in ten cases belong to mild sufferers or asymptomatic patients, that they barely know that they have potential immunity, or that they could be infectious.
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Game-Changing Blood Test for "Hidden Victims"
Birmingham University's blood test will place "hidden victims" under the radar. Scientists believe this could mean huge implications for families, firms, and schools. The blood test works by inspecting antibodies produced when COVID-19 encroaches cells with its surface 'spikes'.
Through its mechanism, the test will be able to pick up more cases, the researchers say. Additionally, mild victims respond to the 'spikes', whereas severe cases seem to react to the virus's principal body.
According to Alex Richter, one of the authors from the Institute of Immunology at Birmingham, their findings were based on studies comprising 1,000 NHS workers.
She added that with milder cases and asymptomatic infections, the antibody response might be more feeble in existing protein tests. This is in contrast to those who are severely ill, wherein detection could be pretty straightforward.
Richter further explains how their COVID-19 blood test uses a correctly folded design of the spike protein wherein the virus attaches itself to. Moreover, she proudly says that their tests are obtaining 98% sensitivity to the virus, which is a game-changer for coronavirus testing in the community and other countries.
Birmingham University's blood test will be launched next month and relies on the "heel prick" procedure used for newborn babies.
Coronavirus Blood Test Procedure
Patients would be asked to prick their finger at home. After which, they would send a dried blood spot card to a laboratory for testing. According to Dr. Richter, this method was just as accurate at detecting immunity to the virus as having blood drawn straight from the veins.
New coronavirus screening procedures have been entangled in disappointments, and there is confusion about general rates of infection and immunity.
Regulators have outlawed private laboratories from charging up to $125 for Roche and Abbott' finger-prick' tests. This was brought about by fears that the tests might not be as accurate as when blood samples are drawn from veins.
Public Health England's evaluation of the Roche test stated a 14% "false negative" ratio in admitted patients after 14 days. On the contrary, the firm contends it is 100%.
Checks on health workers convey a third could test negative in blood although having antibodies in their saliva. This implies a version of the Birmingham blood test might be orally administered. The university is sending off the COVID-19 test through its spin-off firm, The Binding Site.
