Fears NHS will miss out on new test as Europe shows interest

A new “fast and accurate” coronavirus antibody test has been developed by scientists in Edinburgh, although the company fears the NHS could miss out amid interest in Europe for the machines.

Researchers for blood-screening company Quotient have developed a new test for whether people are immune to Covid-19 by spotting whether a person has developed antibodies to the disease.

The serological screening machines have capacity for up to 36,000 tests a day and produce results in 35 minutes with 99.8% accuracy, the firm said. Quotient says it has 12 screening machines available, with a further 20 expected to be ready by the end of the year, and it has already had talks with interested parties across Europe.

However, the company is calling for the UK and Scottish governments to begin negotiations so that the NHS might be able to benefit.

Chief executive Franz Walt said: “This is an outstanding performance by our teams in both Edinburgh and Switzerland. We now want to make sure that we can help as many people as possible as quickly as possible.”

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson will urge countries to “pull together” and share their expertise as he co-hosts an international conference to drive the race for coronavirus treatments, tests and vaccines.

The prime minister will describe the challenge facing humanity as the “most urgent shared endeavour of our lifetimes”.

Today’s online pledging conference – co-hosted by the UK and eight other countries and organisations – aims to bring in more than £6.6 billion in funding to support the global response to the pandemic. The UK has pledged to give £388m in aid funding for research into tests, treatments and vaccines – part of a £744m commitment to end the pandemic and support the global economy.

We now want to make sure that we can help as many people as possible as quickly as possible. FRANZ WALT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF QUOTIENT