The independent platform for news, articles and advice for professionals in laboratory medicine

Contract secured to manufacture coronavirus test kits

New antibody test kits for ongoing SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus testing and immunity research are now being manufactured in Essex. Europlaz Technologies, based in Southminster, has signed an exclusive contract to manufacture antibody test kits.

While the existing SARS-CoV-2 swab test now being used by the government and health services can detect whether or not a person has the virus currently, it cannot tell if a person has had the virus previously and since recovered.

Antibody tests can provide near-immediate results about whether or not a person potentially has or has ever had SARS-CoV-2. As well as being very useful for key health workers in ensuring a safe return or continuation of their work, knowing generally who is or is not at risk of catching or spreading the virus will provide a much greater understanding of SARS-CoV-2 immunity. It will also assist with vaccine research and potentially the easing of some lockdown restrictions in the future.

Europlaz was selected to manufacture these test kits for several reasons, including their fast response to the initial approach, their expertise in medical device manufacturing and a demonstrable track record of engineering highly technical devices. Europlaz also had clear capacity to manufacture the kits within its facilities, having just built two additional Class 7 Clean Rooms – the industry standard for manufacturing medical devices.

Eddie O’Keeffe (Chairman, Europlaz Technologies) commented: “Thanks to our state-of-the-art resources, Europlaz will be able to put the components of the test kits together in approximately 20–30 seconds during the manufacturing process, potentially allowing us to manufacture millions of devices. We are incredibly proud to be involved in such a significant project protecting the health of our nation through the coronavirus testing process and we look forward to seeing health services and individuals reap the benefits of antibody test kits.”

www.europlaz.co.uk

Upcoming Events

POCT Innovators: The Power to Disrupt Series

Cloth Hall Court, Leeds. UK
20 March, 2024

Interpreting Reports: UK NEQAS Haematology

ONLINE
21st March 2024

USCAP 113th Annual Meeting

Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
23-28 March, 2024

Pathology Horizons 2024

MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath
18-20 April, 2024

Diagnostics North East Conference 2024

The Catalyst, Newcastle upon Tyne
19 April, 2024

ECCMID 2024 - European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Fira Gran Via, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
27-30 April 2024

Access the latest issue of Pathology In Practice on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Pathology In Practice app from your device's App store

Upcoming Events

POCT Innovators: The Power to Disrupt Series

Cloth Hall Court, Leeds. UK
20 March, 2024

Interpreting Reports: UK NEQAS Haematology

ONLINE
21st March 2024

USCAP 113th Annual Meeting

Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
23-28 March, 2024

Pathology Horizons 2024

MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath
18-20 April, 2024

Diagnostics North East Conference 2024

The Catalyst, Newcastle upon Tyne
19 April, 2024

ECCMID 2024 - European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Fira Gran Via, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
27-30 April 2024

Access the latest issue of Pathology In Practice on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Pathology In Practice app from your device's App store

Step Communications Ltd, Step House, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR
Tel: 01892 779999
www.step-communications.com
© 2024 Step Communications Ltd. Registered in England. Registration Number 3893025