Coronavirus test with 20 minute diagnosis must be 'rolled out' says care leader

A COVID-19 test that can give care homes an on-site diagnosis within 20 minutes has prompted a care sector leader to call for its roll out to ensure visitors can meet residents regularly.

The COVID-19 LAMP assay test, developed by UK firm Optigene, can turn around results within 20 minutes, prompting the chief executive of Care England to tell MPs that care homes need ’that testing rolled out’.

The new test can offer almost 300 resident samples, which can be processed in an hour on a single instrument.

'What we need is that testing rolled out'

Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, which represents independent care homes, gave his view about the test to MPs sitting on the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee.

Martin Green said: “I think we’ve got to get testing as part of an ongoing programme – it is not a once-in-a-lifetime activity, it’s something that needs to happen regularly.

“There is one programme going on in Hampshire at the moment where you can get test results within about 20 minutes.

“Now what we need is that testing rolled out because that will also help us not only be able to test staff and residents, but also to be able to test relatives who might want to visit.”

'Could be rapidly deployed'

The swab test trial, which began in Hampshire in May, has proved successful in clinical settings. It is currently being used in some A&E departments, GP testing hubs and care homes. The LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) test uses reagents which are all manufactured in the UK, making it widely accessible.

In a statement Optigene said: ‘There is no shortage of chemical reagents and the test could be rapidly deployed around the UK to significantly increase capacity to diagnose the COVID-19 virus.

'This specific and extremely sensitive test can operate directly from nasal and throat swabs to produce results in less than 20 minutes'.

Currently, PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests take 48-72 hours to get a diagnosis, because they need to be sent to a laboratory and processed but the COVID-19 LAMP assay test provides faster results on site.

Unlike the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, that is already being used to diagnose the virus, the OptiGene procedure uses isothermal LAMP technology that does not require expensive, time-consuming processing.

The fast turnaround time for test results could allow care homes to welcome visitors back by offering them an on-site 20 minute test.

Announcing the trial in May, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: ‘This new test could provide accurate results almost on the spot. This could change the way that we control Covid-19 across the country, getting those with negative results back into society as quickly as possible.”

With whole care home testing, involving PCR tests, rolled out to all care homes, the government has said it has given testing kits to over 12,000 care homes. It has also said it can send out and process over 50,000 test kits a day.