🔬 A new test can help reduce the spread of viruses and save lives

Researchers at the University of Oxford in the UK have developed a rapid test that can identify respiratory viruses within five minutes. The new test has been designed to quickly and easily differentiate between different types of viruses that cause respiratory infections, such as influenza and Covid-19.

The test works by an AI, which the researchers have trained to recognize different virus types. It analyzes a sample from the patient's nose or throat. After five minutes, AIn can determine which type of virus it is. This is a big improvement over today's tests which take longer to perform and can only recognize one type of virus at a time.

“Our simplified method of diagnostic testing is faster, more cost-effective, more accurate and more future-proof than some of the tests on the market today. If we want to recognize a new virus, we just need to train the AI ​​to recognize it instead of having to create a whole new test. Our study shows that this method has the potential to revolutionize virus diagnostics and our ability to control the spread of respiratory diseases," says Nicole Robb, researcher at the University of Oxford and one of the researchers behind the study in a press release.

The researchers have carried out tests of the new test on patients with Covid-19. The tests showed that the method could identify the correct type of virus in 97 percent of cases.

The new test could have a significant impact on healthcare by providing quick and accurate results that can help identify and isolate people with infections and reduce the spread of viruses. It can also help speed up diagnosis and treatment. Overall, this could save many lives in the future.

Read the entire study here