Researchers announce 10-minute PCR Covid-19 test is accurate

Researchers at the University of Birmingham announced on Tuesday that they have developed a new Covid-19 test capable of providing reliable results in less than 10 minutes,.

The test was first announced back in January, but it required further trials to determine accurate results. This has now been estabished, the researchers said.

The test, called RTF-EXPAR, has been found to be “just as sensitive” in detecting Covid as PCR tests but offers faster results and could be used at airport arrival terminals. PCR tests are seen as being more accurate than lateral flow tests but in the past took longer to process and provide results

The scientists used a three-way comparison study to confirm that the Exponential Amplification Reaction (EXPAR) method is just as sensitive, but faster, than both PCR and LAMP tests which are currently used in hospital settings. The Birmingham Covid-19 test gives a sample-to-signal time of under 10 minutes, even for low viral levels where current lateral flow tests are less effective.

Professor Tim Dafforn, who is working on the Birmingham University project, said: “An ideal test would be one that is both sufficiently sensitive and speedy – our test, called RTF-EXPAR, achieves this goal.”

The assay has been tested at the Surgical Research Laboratory at the University of Birmingham. Professor Andrew Beggs, whose team conducted the testing, commented: “The testing used swabs containing a typical range of viral loads seen during the pandemic, and had a six-minute cut-off time. The analysis showed RTF-EXPAR’s sensitivity is equivalent to quantitative PCR testing, with a positive predictive value of 89%, and a negative predictive value of 93 per cent. We expect to publish the full results of this testing in the near future.”

The Birmingham University team is planning to publish full tests results “in the future” and is now looking for commercial partners for rapid licensing of the RTF-EXPAR test to make it as widely available as possible.

Covid 19 test providers in the UK are currently being investigated for their high prices and poor service by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).