雙語:牛津大學研發出快速檢測方法  5分鐘識別新冠

(原標題牛津大學研發出快速檢測方法  5分鐘識別新冠

英國牛津大學科學家研發出一種快速的新冠病毒檢測方法,能夠在5分鐘內識別出新冠病毒,這種方法有望應用於機場企業的大規模檢測。

A man wearing a face mask walks past a security guard at the entrance of Rome's ancient Colosseum in Rome, Italy, on Oct 2, 2020. [Photo/Agencies]

Scientists from Britain’s University of Oxford have developed a rapid Covid-19 test able to identify the coronavirus in less than five minutes, researchers said on Thursday, adding it could be used in mass testing at airports and businesses.

研究人員週四(10月15日)表示,英國牛津大學的科學家研發出一種新冠病毒快速檢測方法,可在五分鐘內識別出新冠病毒。研究人員補充稱,這種方法可用於機場和企業的大規模檢測。

The university said it hoped to start product development of the testing device in early 2021 and have an approved device available six months afterwards.

牛津大學表示,希望在2021年初開始檢測設備的產品開發,並在6個月後推出批准的設備。

The device is able to detect the coronavirus and distinguish it from other viruses with high accuracy, the researchers said.

研究人員稱,該設備能夠檢測新冠病毒,並將其與其他病毒區分開來,精確度很高。

“Our method quickly detects intact virus particles,” said Professor Achilles Kapanidis, at Oxford’s Department of Physics, adding that this meant the test would be “simple, extremely rapid, and cost-effective”.

牛津大學物理系教授阿基里斯·卡帕尼迪斯說:“我們的方法可以快速檢測完整的病毒微粒。”他還說,這意味着這種測試“簡單、極其快速,而且很划算”。

Rapid antigen tests are seen as key in rolling out mass-testing and re-opening economies while the coronavirus is still circulating, and those that are already in use are faster and cheaper but less accurate than existing molecular PCR tests.

在新冠病毒仍在流行之際,快速抗原檢測被視爲推出大規模檢測和重新開放經濟關鍵,而且已經在使用的快速檢測比現有的分子PCR檢測更快速和廉價,但準確性更低。

Siemens Healthineers on Wednesday announced the launch of a rapid antigen test kit in Europe to detect coronavirus infections, but warned that the industry may struggle to meet a surge in demand.

西門子醫療週三(10月14日)宣佈,將在歐洲推出一種新冠病毒快速抗原檢測試劑盒,但警告稱,該行業可能難以滿足激增的需求。

Although the Oxford platform will only be ready next year, the tests could help manage the pandemic in time for next winter. Health officials have warned that the world will need to live with coronavirus even if a vaccine is developed.

儘管牛津新推出的檢測平臺明年纔會準備就緒,不過這些檢測設備可以幫助在明年冬天及時控制疫情。衛生官員警告說,即使研製疫苗世界仍然需要與新冠病毒共存。

“A significant concern for the upcoming winter months is the unpredictable effects of co-circulation of SARS-CoV-2 with other seasonal respiratory viruses,” said Dr Nicole Robb, of Warwick Medical School.

沃裡克醫學院尼科爾·羅伯博士說:“新冠病毒和其他季節性呼吸道病毒的共同傳播所帶來的不可預測影響是今年冬季的一個重要問題。”

“We have shown that our assay (test) can reliably distinguish between different viruses in clinical samples, a development that offers a crucial advantage in the next phase of the pandemic.”

“我們已經證明,我們的檢測能夠可靠地區臨牀樣本中的不同病毒,這一進展爲下一階段的疫情提供了一個至關重要的優勢。”