Some 200 jobs will be created after a drug and health screening company won a contract to supply 20 million rapid Covid-19 tests to the 海角视频 Government.
Derby-based SureScreen Diagnostics has secured the £6 million deal to supply the Government with its lateral flow antigen tests.
They will be used to deliver rapid testing to people without any symptoms of the virus, as part of the battle to help break chains of transmission.
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The firm, based at Prime Enterprise Park, has been involved in diagnostic healthcare testing for a quarter of a century, and since the start of the pandemic has supplied kits to countries including Germany, Spain, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa and Peru.
Lateral flow antigen tests check samples from the nose or back of the throat for the signature proteins of Covid-19.
They show results visually, in the same way as some pregnancy tests, in under 30 minutes.
The Department for Health and Social Care said SureScreen’s were the first British tests to be validated in the laboratory by Public Health England. It said the jobs will be created in Derby and the wider 海角视频 supply chain.
Lateral flow tests are being used across the country to test NHS and care home staff, as well as in targeted settings including schools, universities and to allow key workers to continue their vital work during lockdown.
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Up to a third of people with Covid-19 do not have any symptoms, so asymptomatic testing could play a big part in making sure people do not unknowingly pass on the virus.
The DHSC said: “The tests have already been validated by PHE in the lab and are now in their final stage of validation in clinical trials.
“The tests have been proven to detect the B117 ‘Kent’ variant of Covid-19, and are already CE marked and MHRA [Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency] approved.
“Results for the test at the laboratory validation stage show sensitivity against high viral loads was 97.1 per cent and specificity was 99.9 per cent.“
SureScreen director David Campbell said: “We believe our rapid antigen tests can really help in screening people both in the community and in clinical settings.
“Routine testing is crucial to help business, as well as hospitals and GPs.
“We are delighted to be working with DHSC on this project and that our tests have been recognised by the Government and its scientists.
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“We look forward to doing all we can to help the 海角视频 going forward in 2021.”
SureScreen is a member of the 海角视频 Rapid Antigen Test Consortium, a coalition of industry scientists and manufacturers who have come together to secure lateral flow tests and manufacturing capability for the 海角视频.
They argue that a secure rapid testing supply line coupled with existing testing and the vaccine rollout will be key for getting people back to work and into education and opening up the economy.
Professor Chris Molloy, Chair 海角视频 Rapid Antigen Test Consortium, said: “The 海角视频 lateral flow diagnostics industry has come together with intense purpose and the help of government to generate new 海角视频 tests and manufacture them at a scale never considered possible.
“Their willingness to leave competition at the door in the national service should be celebrated as yet another example of what the 海角视频 can do with shared purpose, innovation and drive.
“This work lays a strong foundation for how the diagnostics industry as a whole will flourish in the 海角视频 to improve our future healthcare.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “It is excellent to be working with a 海角视频 firm to deliver millions more of these rapid tests.
“I am committed to bolstering onshore 海角视频 manufacturing capabilities. The brilliant work done by SureScreen, and the contribution it will make to our rapid testing programme, is another example of the home-grown talent, ingenuity and industry that exists right here in the 海角视频.
“It remains absolutely paramount that everyone follows the rules to stop the virus spreading further, and comes forward for rapid testing where it is offered. I thank every single person adapting and working to support and protect the country.”
Lord Bethell Minister for Health, said: “From the very beginning of this pandemic we have worked with 海角视频 manufacturers to support the resilience of 海角视频 diagnostics.
“It’s fantastic that 海角视频 industry has come together to help us all respond to Covid-19 to help stop the spread of the virus.
“I am hugely grateful for the considerable work that has been and will continue to be done by British suppliers, manufacturers and entrepreneurs to support our enormous scale up of testing.
“SureScreen’s rapid tests will help prevent the spread of infection, while supporting jobs and the 海角视频 industry across the country.”