CoTest focuses on protecting the population by testing the well and ensuring positive COVID-19 cases are isolated quickly. It will enable rapid, daily and highly cost-efficient screening of large groups, such as school classes and workplaces, using a new and significantly improved approach to pooled screening. CoTest enables efficient testing at the point of most immediate need for maximum immediate impact.
The technology will be able to be used by anyone, anywhere, to screen up to 40 people at once for Covid-19 with results available in 30 minutes. Each pooled screening can be carried out for a similar cost to one individual test and provides the same degree of accuracy. Dramatically reducing the burden on centralised testing services, CoTest quickly and accurately provides results at any location.
The equipment is compact and easy to use, with screening based on simple saliva or swab tests. Crucially, no specialist or external staff are required to use the equipment.
CoTest is the latest development in TTP’s support for the UK’s response to Covid-19. TTP is looking for investment and partners to accelerate product development and scale-up.
In response to the Ventilator Challenge, TTP developed ‘CoVent’, described by Michael Gove as a demonstration of "extraordinary endeavour, enterprise and ingenuity". TTP engaged Dyson as manufacturing partner for CoVent and was ready for MHRA submissions and production within a month.
TTP also developed the DnaNudge technology and partnered with Quotient on the world’s first fully automated diagnostic testing platform, which is enabling the development of rapid, high performance Covid-19 antibody tests.
As vaccines are rolled out and infections rates lower, the new technology is especially useful in augmenting existing tools as the UK enters the next stage of its management of the virus.
Peter Crossley, Product Development Lead, says: “CoTest is not another mass testing offer. It is a new pooled screening technology designed to be compact and simple to use without specialist support or training. With support, it’s entirely possible that 'CoTest' could be in schools and businesses and being used as a key tool in how we manage the virus. The cost efficiency of this technology becomes increasingly powerful as infection rates decrease and health security monitoring becomes key.”
Giles Sanders, Diagnostics Lead at TTP, adds: “With the development of CoTest we are looking at where we see the role of testing and screening in the immediate future. We believe this technology represents an important step forward in distributed screening capacity, reducing the risk of transmission and allowing organisations to take greater control over their health security, stay open and relieve pressure on central services.”
TTP believes that, with support, it will be able to accelerate development of CoTest rapidly and has already engaged a number of global partners across assay development and manufacturing.
To find out more about CoTest, please visit: https://www.ttp.com/cotest