Multiplexed Covid-19-Flu-20 Antigen-Antibody Testing (COVIDFLU)

This project is focused on the development of two rapid, point-of-care COVID-19/flu tests that can be used to test a person for both coronavirus and flu antigens (showing whether they currently HAVE either of the viruses) and antibodies (showing whether they have previously HAD the viruses). The tests would take 5-7 mins to complete and thus results could be given to a patient at the testing centre/consultation. The tests would assess the patient for both viruses simultaneously, allowing healthcare professionals to distinguish between diseases with similar symptoms and, for example, triage patients to different areas of hospitals to slow the spread of the viruses. Antibody tests currently approved for use in the UK by the MHRA use blood drawn from a patient's arm; this project will firstly improve an already-approved COVID-19 antibody test by the addition of flu antibody detection, and secondly test whether the same sensitivity can be achieved through blood pricked from a finger. These developments would allow quick assessment of patients to check their suitability for a flu vaccine (some at-risk patients may have lasting damage from COVID-19 making them vulnerable to a flu injection) and, post-vaccine, whether their flu vaccine induced an immune response. There is currently no approved antigen test for COVID-19 in the UK. The test currently used to diagnose COVID-19 is a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test following a nose swab. This test has only 80% accuracy, has a slow turnaround (most take \>24h), and is very uncomfortable for patients when performed properly, meaning the public is unlikely to follow the steps properly at home and children are unlikely to comply. A saliva-based test would be easy and comfortable for patients to perform as they would simply have to spit into a tube. This project will focus on the development of a rapid, accurate, saliva-based antigen test that will be able to diagnose COVID-19 and/or four different strains of the flu in 7 minutes. The speed of this test would revolutionise UK testing, as it would allow fast and accurate screening of thousands of people at, for example, airports, conferences, and sports events, to stop people spreading the viruses onto others while allowing the UK economy to restart and lives to return to normal. If time and funds permit, the study will progress to look at measuring antibodies in saliva simultaneously and making the tests hand-held for use by the public at home.