New testing devices that can diagnose Covid-19 in just over an hour have been developed by scientists. The Lab-in-Cartridge rapid testing kit designed by DnaNudge, an Imperial College London spinout company, is currently being evaluated by Public Health England.
It involves collecting nasal and throat swabs from patients and placing them on to a "cartridge" which goes into a machine known as NudgeBox for analysis.
The device then looks for traces of genetic material belonging to the coronavirus in the samples in what is known as PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing.
The technology is based on the company's consumer DNA testing service which maps users' genetic profile to key nutrition-related health traits.