Researchers in Newcastle have created a Covid-19 test that's quicker than a PCR test and 6,000 times more accurate than a lateral flow test (LFT) - and they've only been able to do that thanks to a huge "bank" of Covid-19 samples from patients in our area.
The test has been developed this year and was first announced in April. Researchers have now explained that thousands of samples from patients - both Covid-19 positive and negative - had been essential in perfecting it. The test, or "biosensor", is able to detect far smaller amounts of Covid-19 virus than a LFT but without requiring extensive scientific equipment like a PCR test does.
The North East Innovation Lab - which is run by the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust and used to be part of the Integrated Covid Hub North East (ICHNE) - houses a "biobank" with around 20,000 samples. These range from blood and saliva to other samples obtained through swab testing.
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This is just one of the ways in which teams - formerly part of ICHNE - have adapted to that organisation's closure to continue to use expertise developed during the pandemic to save lives and take the pressure off the NHS. Another sees contact tracers checking in with endoscopy patients ahead of their procedures in a bid to reduce missed appointments. In April, the Lighthouse Lab - which tested Covid-19 samples in Gateshead - closed, and with it went 650 jobs.
The test samples in Newcastle had been collected during the pandemic in several ways - from patients at hospitals like the Freeman and the RVI, through a partnership and the now-shut Lighthouse Lab, and through the work of a dedicated research nurse. This has created what bosses at the Innovation Lab call a "unique storage facility".
And its come in very handy for researchers working at the cutting edge of Covid-19 testing technology. The new test relies on testing for nanoparticles and lead researcher, Dr Marloes Peeters of Newcastle University explained this has created a test which is "as fast and cheap as a lateral flow test but can detect 6,000-times smaller amounts of the Covid-19 virus".
Senior scientist Dr Donna Nile manages the biobank at the Innovation Lab. She said: "We're delighted that our biobank has played a pivotal role in supporting this study. The biobank is a vital repository to enable our evaluation and validation work in the lab and to support wider industry in 'testing the tests'.
"Importantly, each sample in the biobank has detailed meta data attached, allowing for the careful selection of samples according to our clients’ needs. Additionally, bespoke, project- specific samples can be collected to fit with the requests of clients."
Though the Integrated Covid Hub North East (ICHNE) shut at the end of March to disappointment in the region - senior health figures including Dame Jackie Daniel of Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust and the city's former director of public health Prof Eugene Milne said it was "really disappointing" and a "massive shame" - the Innovation Lab was able to continue due to separate funding being secured.
Similarly, the Co-ordination and Response Centre - also part of ICHNE - has also found ways to continue to help the NHS cope with unprecedented pressures. The CRC has created a text-based service to ensure more than 6,500 endoscopy patients in Newcastle were still able to attend their appointments.
In a project utilising a system put in place as part of its contact tracing team during the height of the pandemic, the centre has reduced the percentage of people missing their appointments from a high of 9% to around 2.5%. If people can't attend, they are asked to rearrange and this means patients waiting for a procedure can be moved up the list.
Daryl Perry, director of the CRC, said: "We are delighted with the results of the project, which is supporting the department to make the best use of time and resource to care for more patients, while improving patients’ experience at the start of their journey." He added that the scheme could be rolled out to other NHS services to help with the Covid-19 recovery and targets to reduce waiting lists.
The latest figures showed almost 100,000 patients at Newcastle's hospitals alone were awaiting elective treatment.
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