University of Oxford scientists develop five-minute coronavirus test

Scientists from the University of Oxford have developed a five-minute coronavirus test.

Researchers said the test could be used for mass testing programmes at airports and businesses.

The university said it hoped to start product development of the testing device in early 2021 and have an approved device available six months afterwards.

The device is able to detect the virus and distinguish it from other viruses with high accuracy, the researchers said in a pre-print study.

Professor Achilles Kapanidis, from Oxford's Department of Physics, said the test would be "simple, extremely rapid, and cost-effective".

Rapid tests are seen as key to reopening businesses while coronavirus is still circulating.

On Wednesday, Siemens Healthineers announced the launch of a rapid antigen test kit in Europe to detect coronavirus infections, but warned the industry may struggle to meet a surge in demand.

Although the Oxford platform will only be ready next year, the tests could help manage the pandemic in time for next winter.

Health officials have warned that the world will need to live with coronavirus even if a vaccine is developed.

"A significant concern for the upcoming winter months is the unpredictable effects of co-circulation of SARS-CoV-2 with other seasonal respiratory viruses," Dr Nicole Robb, from Warwick Medical School, said.

"We have shown that our assay (test) can reliably distinguish between different viruses in clinical samples, a development that offers a crucial advantage in the next phase of the pandemic."

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