HOPES FOR NEW TEST

A REVOLUTIONARY new antibody test to detect whether someone has contracted coronavirus could be approved for use in Ireland before the end of the month.

The test, developed by American multi-national firm Abbott Laboratories, is being reviewed by scientists working at the National Virus Laboratory (NVRL) at University College Dublin.

It was given fast-track approval in the US because of its potential to reveal the extent of infections in the population.

According to the NVRL’s assistant director Dr Jeff Connell, experts there will make a recommendation about the test in two weeks to the State agency responsible for approving medicines.

Dr Connell explained: ‘There is a great deal of uncertainty regarding the development of an antibody response following infection, in particular those who had no or mild symptoms, and also the utility of the antibody tests to determine immunity.

‘Therefore the verification of the Abbott SARS-CoV-2 antibody assay is more complex but it’s likely to be completed in the next two weeks.

‘A report will be issued to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) who will then approve the assays if the test verification is acceptable.’

Abbot Laboratories says its new test will give reliable results because, unlike other tests, it picks up on a protein released by Covid-19 into the blood stream.

This weekend the multinational company refused to say whether the test would be manufactured in Ireland.