Is the 15-minute COVID-19 test the way of the future?

Do you wish that you had a 15-minute test for your employees so that you’d know if they were COVID-free or not? Or that you could safely show your own test results on your phone at airports or elsewhere to prove that you are COVID-free?

Well, this may be a reality in the future. A three-month national trial combining 15-minute testing with secure mobile technologies began in Ireland on 28 August.

It’s often best not to get over-excited when news stories hit about “game changers” and “world firsts” but sometimes they offer hope for the future, and that’s what this story may do.

With COVID-19 not going anywhere anytime soon, rapid testing and being able to prove that you don’t have the illness may become more important, especially in the business world. Think about working in any company, visiting relatives in nursing homes and international travel. A fast test, easily available, at a low cost, would speed up the process and reassure others. While it’s some time away yet, what could the future look like?

Digital platform or mobile app

Engineered in Ireland, Health Passport Ireland is currently launching a pilot of this digital platform, with a limited number of trial participants including Tallaght University Hospital (TUH)and Oaklodge Nursing Home in Cork.

The pilot scheme combines advanced mobile technology with rapid, accurate and validated COVID-19 testing solutions, ROQU, the company behind it, says.

Health Passport Ireland was designed to facilitate increased COVID-19 testing for businesses and the public.

“The digital platform is a big step towards helping businesses and individuals to quickly minimise risks related to COVID-19 and ensure they can continue daily activities,” says Robert Quirke, president and CEO of the ROQU group.

“It is a world-first innovation that will enable business and society to finally move forward. It’s a game-changer.”

Health Passport Ireland has been developed specifically to work in harmony with all official COVID-19 tests, including HSE tests, laboratory swabs and blood tests, as well as the very latest rapid testing solutions, he adds.

“During the pilot, where no testing solution is already in place, Health Passport Ireland is providing the very latest rapid antigen* swab tests and antibody* blood tests, which deliver results in less than 15 minutes. The testing solutions are engineered, manufactured, and clinically validated in Europe,” he says.

While tests are provided free during the pilot, businesses may have to pay for them in the future.

During the pilot, tens of thousands of people will be tested, Quirk continues.

“The only time they would be tested at present is when they are symptomatic. If people involved in the pilot want to, they can also opt-in to avail of the technology as well as the test. It is a brilliant solution for any business that wants to put the highest measures of protection of healthcare in place.”

The pilot programme will stress test the systems and look at all the validation technology, he says.

“Once we are happy with that, we will look at a wider rollout of the digital platform. Since we announced the pilot, we have had interest from many countries and been inundated by companies here who want to participate in the trial.”

How it would work

“Down the line, you have the option to set up a Health Passport account. You don’t do anything, it is managed automatically. You don’t need to put in your details or results, as this is done from a central testing database and linked to your most recent test. The information is therefore based on fact, not just on filling in a contact form. You can have your test history saved there also. All the information is there in your hand. The plan is that it will shift the balance back to the people, because you have the ability to say, ‘I don’t have COVID-19, so why can’t I go to the pub or get on a plane’ etc.”

The 15-minute test

The HSE currently uses what’s called the PCR test. PCR means polymerase chain reaction and this test involves a nose and throat swab.

When the HSE was asked to comment on the accuracy of the 15-minute test, they requested that we redirect our query to the healthcare participants in this pilot programme i.e. Tallaght University Hospital and Oaklodge Nursing Home. This we did.

Diarmuid O’Dálaigh, owner of Oaklodge Nursing Home in Cork, is delighted to be trialling the new 15-minute turnaround tests for COVID-19 and to be involved in the pilot programme for the digital platform.

“Until there is a vaccine, the only solution is to test and keep testing everyone,” he says, “so that we can immediately isolate any positive cases, while others are able to carry on their daily activities.”

He is surprised that the HSE is not using the finger prick or rapid throat swab 15-minute test.

“I do hope the HSE will take it up. It is CE approved and used in hospitals in the UK, and is a very quick, minimum-discomfort test administered by a GP or nurse.”

He stresses that Oaklodge nursing home continues to comply with all HSE guidelines related to COVID-19. These include fortnightly testing of staff with the HSE’s PCR nose and throat swab test. But being able to do the 15-minute test on staff on alternate weeks provides extra reassurance, however.

“It’s an extra layer of security and knowledge for us,” he says, “and while it won’t immediately replace the current system in use, I think it would be a huge help to it and may well do so in the future.”

The 15-minute tests, similar to the fingerprick blood sugar test for those with diabetes, are manufactured by UK and German diagnostics companies and Oaklodge is getting them free during the pilot programme.

“I’ve priced them in the UK and am satisfied that the cost after the pilot won’t be prohibitive,” O’Dálaigh says.

The digital platform is of less interest to him as a nursing home owner, but could be very important to society in the future, he feels.

“If it takes off, it could mean you have two million people using it and it would be far more practical [than filling in a form]. My understanding is that you could walk into a premises and, if you wish, you can allow your phone app to be scanned by another person’s phone, so you don’t need any special equipment. It shows up in green that you have recently tested negative for COVID-19, indicating a low risk. To remain ‘green’ you have to be tested again in a time period appropriate for your [work] role, which I understand is about two weeks in general.”

How are employees reacting to the digital app side of the pilot?

“That is just starting here and it’s all voluntary, but staff are excited to be part of any initiative that will reassure residents and their families, and staff and their families as well.”

What about after the pilot?

“We hope then that if a visitor comes to the door we can say: ‘Take the 15-minute test and if you’re clear you can visit in person, in-house’,” the owner says.

“At the moment, we are only facilitating visits in an external cabin and in the garden, as we are still quite fearful with the current spikes. The rapid test doesn’t reduce in any way the need for the full application of public health guidelines, but it will give families reassurance that they are not bringing in the infection. Our primary concern, as always, has to be our residents and their families.”

Tallaght University Hospital

TUH is involved in the pilot programme also, so how are they getting on?

“TUH is taking part in the trial but focusing on the technology [app end]. We will continue to use our own PCR testing,” says Shane Russell, chief operations officer at the hospital.

“The technology that is being trialled is designed to work with all official COVID-19 tests. We are participating in the trial in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the HSE.”

The CIO is responsible for the delivery of technology to support and improve healthcare in Ireland.

“Innovation is central to delivering improved and safer care for patients,” he continues.

“TUH is delighted to be afforded the opportunity to participate in the Health Passport Ireland platform pilot trial. It enables the hospital to explore the potential of new technology and how it can integrate with COVID-19 testing for our elective surgical patients.

“By combining increased testing with the latest technologies, this will enable us all to keep a step ahead of the continued spread of the virus. Our microbiology and operations teams in TUH will participate in the controlled pilot programme over the coming weeks.”

Data privacy

Security on the app – data protection – is very important, Robert Quirke says.

“There are multiple stages of security and verification. It does not track your location. It doesn’t use cookies or Bluetooth, for example, and doesn’t send your info to any third parties or to the Government. The absolute minimum amount of data will be collected in order to perform this important public service.” CL

To stay up to date on developments related to this pilot project, see www.healthpassportireland.ie/

PCR and antigen tests detect whether a person is currently infected, and serology (antibody) tests detect whether a person had an infection in the past.

PCR tests look for pieces of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the nose, throat, or other areas in the respiratory tract to determine if the person has an active infection.

Antigen tests look for pieces of proteins that make up the SARS-CoV-2 virus to determine if the person has an active infection.

Serology looks for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in the blood to determine if there was a past infection.