COVID result in seconds
"Our solution can help stop the spread by instantly detecting people who are infectious at the point of entry and allow communities and economies to safely return to a normal way of life."
A NEW venture between an Israeli and Australian company will see the introduction of a low-cost test that can detect the COVID-19 virus in seconds.
Sydney-based Inventive Health is entering into a merger with Israeli-based Virusight Diagnostic, a world-leader in artificial intelligence software using spectral technology, supported by the Sheba Medical Centre in Israel.
Its flagship product, SpectraLIT, is a new low-cost point-of-care testing solution, powered by artificial intelligence, that is able to detect COVID-19 within seconds using either a non-invasive mouthwash or nasal swabs.
It can integrate with track-and-trace systems and the company says it costs a fraction of what PCR and other rapid-antigen tests currently available cost.
Sydney-based Gary Cohen, the executive chairman of Inventive Health, will be CEO of the joint venture.
“This merger brings together the best minds in digital health, AI and international business infrastructure,” said Cohen.
“Vaccinations are critically important, but we know that being vaccinated doesn’t prevent an individual from contracting and transmitting the virus.
“Our solution can help stop the spread by instantly detecting people who are infectious at the point of entry and allow communities and economies to safely return to a normal way of life.”
Pilot tests have been conducted in more than 40 countries and the test has already been certified by a number of regulatory bodies around the world.
Contract discussions are underway in the UK, Europe, South America, the United States, Asia and Australia.
“Being able to detect a devastating virus like COVID-19, its many variants and other viruses using cost-effective ultra-rapid testing is desperately needed the world over,” said Virusight Diagnostic chairman Eli Assoolin.
“Frequent testing will become a way of life and in Virusight Diagnostic we have a point of care solution that is safe, reliable and easy to deploy, built on our AI platform for pathogens diagnosis using spectral technology.”
The combined company, valued at A$111 million, will be headquartered in Israel with offices in Sydney and London, and supported by a global distribution network.
Virusight emerged from Sheba Medical Centre’s ARC Innovation Centre, which has been at the forefront of technological development during the pandemic.
comments