Researchers in Galway have been given funding to assist with the effort to mass produce rapid testing for Covid-19. They are working on developing tests that could detect SARS-CoV-2 in around 15 minutes.
A research team at NUI Galway has been given €200,000 by the Health Research Board and is hoping to make the tests available early next year.
Scientists plan to use instruments called Raman spectrometers to carry out the screening. They are working to develop a Covid test to work with the devices, in order to produce and distribute large quantities, within a short period of time.
Samples can be collected from saliva, nasal swabs or blood. They are then placed in glass vials and inserted into the hand-held spectrometers, for analysis.