Is antibody out there?!
Don’t worry – we’re here… and with a new COVID-19 inspired innovation!
As we know, due to the pandemic, the medical world has been rapidly innovating new ways to get tests out safely and quickly.
And, there has been more discussion on how to allow more people to have access to healthcare services while developing easier and faster testing methods.
Why are antibodies important?
Antibody testing is proving to be valuable since it can help control outbreaks and determine who’s been exposed.
And contributing to this need for tests has been a grad student from Muthesius University of Fine Arts and Design, Yue Zhao. The kit is called “Testen?Testen!” which is an at-home antibody test kit. (In case it’s not clear, the name is German for “testing? testing!”)
This new test uses high-velocity micro-needles and a bit of vacuum pressure to quickly collect a few drops of blood from a person’s forearm.
How does it work?
After collecting the blood, the device uses a test antigen that’s mixed in with the blood at the push of a button. Then the results appear, similar to a pregnancy test.
Since it uses microneedles, it’s less painful and scary – and more simple to operate.
The results can also be mailed off to contact tracing labs where researchers can scan the test results and ID code without opening the package.
According to Zhao, “Compared with the current test product, the ‘Testen?Testen!’ test kit provides a safe and comfortable antibody test method. The whole process is needleless and painless, providing users with a friendly and convenient test experience. And it takes into account the security and efficiency of data collection.”
The proposal was even awarded a national runner-up in this year’s Dyson Awards. Which shows that this has a lot of potential to be something everyone would want to use in the future.
Why is rapid testing important to the medical world?
Even though most people like to discuss the upcoming vaccine, it’s still essential that in the meantime there are innovations to technology that can be used post-pandemic.
Also, the need to make easier at-home tests is crucial to staying healthy while saving time and money since most people don’t like to take time out of their day to go get tested for anything.
What do you think about the medical advancements being made during the pandemic? Do you think we’re doing enough, or should we be doing more? Would you use an at-home test kit like this one? Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below!
Nick Herbert says
I would be interested in a self-test system for Covid-19, to see if my suspicions that I had the virus back in January 2020 – after spending Christmas 2019 in Hong Kong – are confirmed. And if antibodies for C-19 are still in my system, that bodes well for future resistance to the bug. That’s a lot of “Ifs” – so the single, essential issue with ANY proposed home-test kit is whether it is absolutely, 100%, utterly and completely RELIABLE.
That is the ONLY thing that matters. Not the cost, or colour or packaging or how pretty it looks – but CAN WE TRUST IT…? 🧐🇬🇧👍🥸👎
Glynder Roberts says
Love the idea but wonder about cost. As a senior I think this testing device should be given free of charge to all senior as we are the most affected age group
Veronica Baker says
Is this being used in Germany? I would certainly be interested in obtaining such a kit.
Desmond Melenka says
Desmond Melenka
I would be interested in the test. I am pretty sure I had covid when I got back from Mexico in December 2019.
Kathleen Walker says
Regardless of whether we had Covid or not, apparently any immunity we would get from that wouldn’t last more than several months. It’s not like getting the flu and then probably not getting it again until next flu season.
Lynn De Lacey says
Yes I also believe I may have been exposed in February before the shutdowns began. I think I had some very mild symptoms. I was working with high exposure to many foreign travelers at the time. Such a kit would be very useful for anyone and reduce the stress of wondering whether your results have been mixed up. Some acquaintances of mine registered and were queuing for hours to be tested- they got bored and left the line. A week later they were both informed they had tested positive. They hadn’t done the test – only stood in line and given in their details? Hmmmm. Makes you wonder?
grow labs says
Lets see what the microneedle device looks like first. Also, are the needles delivering something while also extracting blood? Not so keen if the micro needle device is the same as the MIT quantum dot device
Catherine Balka says
Yes, cost and validity make or break this innovative testing device! More information, please.