Coronavirus: Portsmouth patients at Queen Alexandra Hospital taking part in world's first trial for 5-minute Covid-19 test

Around 300 patients at Queen Alexandra Hospital will be part of a new clinical study for the CoronaCheck test for Covid-19 in a blind trial with infected and normal patients.

The test, by Cambridge-based Exhalation Technology, uses exhaled breath to screen for Covid-19 with the aim for a result in five minutes.

Dr Lauren Fox, respiratory research fellow at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust said the initial results ‘show promise’.

It is hoped it will mean quick and accurate testing for places including hospitals, airports, shopping centres and schools.

Dr Fox said: ‘It is great to be working alongside Exhalation Technology (ETL) developing this new technology to enable us to rapidly diagnose coronavirus.

‘We are grateful to our patients and staff who have given their time to participate and are encouraged that the initial results show promise. The team here at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth are excited to be part of this initiative.’

The trial is being led by Anoop Chauhan, who became director of research and innovation at the trust in July as it was announced the Cosham hospital had been awarded university hospital status.

Professor Chauhan’s ambition was for every patient to have access to a clinical trial as part of the new status while continuing to provide care and work on further improvements in research and education with the University of Portsmouth.

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He previously told The News: ‘It is fantastic that the trust has been awarded university hospital status, and will help us to drive forward opportunities for research and education.

‘It is our ambition that every one of our patients has access to a clinical trial or innovation.’

Data on up to 150 patients involved in the trial is expected to be available this month.

Helle Funch Nielsen, chief executive of ETL, added: ‘Initial results from patients recruited into our clinical study are very promising.

Our CoronaCheck test is set to provide novel technology for high volume screening of individuals in a range of environments.

‘The technology is entirely innovative and our initial test is based on rapid testing in exhaled breath, a simple and convenient means of sample collection.’

The aim is for each test to cost under £8.

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