An announcement by Professor Sharon Peacock , director of the National Infection Service atPublic Health England(PHE ) , during theScience and Technology Committeeheld today outlined how abode - testing outfit forSARS - CoV-2antibodies would soon be distributed to the UK population . In the conference , Peacock say that 3.5 million outfit had already been purchased , with jillion more to be ordered , and that these would be available either for free or at a minimal price .
There are two form of testing kits available for theSARS - CoV-2 pathogen . The first tests for antigens to inform us whether or not a patient has fighting disease . This is mostly being checked via nasal swab of those suspected of having the COVID-19 disease . The 2d examination look for specific antibody , signs of an immune reply to the disease that reveals whether or not a person has antecedently been infect . You ca n’t check for the antibodies until symptoms have subsided for at least seven days .
“ We are rise a home psychometric test outfit so that hoi polloi who have been sick can be tested for the presence of antibodies , ” said professor Peacock at the conference . “ If that trial is positive , they can then go out and go back to work . A small number of tests have arrive for valuation and these are in Oxford at the minute . They will be evaluated rapidly … ”
The dwelling house testing kit uses a shit of blood much like a blood sugar monitor to analyse a patient role ’s pedigree . To serve with the fingerbreadth - pricking and interpreting the results , it ’s likely that the tests will be available in pharmacies such as Boots , and Amazon is stepping forward to attend with the delivery of kits to the dwelling house of people actively self - isolating due tosymptoms .
Peacock tell military policeman that the tests still require last testing before they are cleared for statistical distribution : “ This testing of the trial run is a little matter and I anticipate that it will be done by the closing of this week . ” When bear on if the tests would be available next week , Peacock responded , “ I think that I would be somewhat less categorical about the date , ” but tally that it would be a subject of days rather than a thing of months .
It is not known for sure whether an mortal can get COVID-19 twice , with someanecdotal reportssuggesting it is potential and otherexperimentsin rhesus monkey macaques suggest it is unconvincing .
you may watch the full Q&A with Professor Sharon Peacock by visitingthis linkand skipping to 13.01.19 .
