With COVID-19 cases rising rapidly across the globe and the little information we know about immunity against it, the global demand for a simple, low-cost, easy-to-administer, and accurate tool to test for the presence of T cells against SARVS-CoV-2 to identify safe and at-risk populations, is increasing. This is where BioVaxys' diagnostic for evaluating the presence or absence of an immune response to SARS-CoV-2 comes in. BioVaxys has developed a method of eliciting an immune T-cell response in humans showing no signs or symptoms of active SARS-CoV-2 infection. This method is based on the Delayed Type Hypersensitivity (DTH), the most reliable test of human T lymphocyte function. This method of diagnosis simply involves a "skin prick" of an immunogenic composition of the SARS-CoV2-2 S-protein, inducing an inflammatory response that develops 24-72 hours after skin exposure to the s-spike antigen, making the immune response entirely T-cells rather than antibodies. This low-cost and easy-to-administer testing method is an accurate tool at stimulating T-cell immunity and would prove highly beneficial in the current climate.
So, why is the demand for a T-cell diagnostic tool against SARS-CoV-2 so prevalent? Peer-reviewed studies and FDA guidance have highlighted the importance of T-cell immunity over antibodies in patients who have recovered from COVID-19. Current methods used as a diagnostic tool are time-consuming and expensive as they require the drawing of blood from the patient and a lengthy analysis at laboratories possessing specialised equipment, rendering them unrealistic for large-screening programs. This demonstrates the promise that the BioVaxys novel diagnostic tool brings, and its applications in practice. A patent application is underway for measuring the magnitude of the DTH skin response via smartphone digital image processing app, with the results being immediately sent to healthcare providers. This would further increase the accessibility of the BioVaxys diagnostic tool, and provide a more accurate way of controlling the spread of COVID-19
