Testing firms’ growth continues as Covid-19 cases rise again

Two North West businesses are growing from the increased demand for coronavirus testing.

AlphaBiolabs has created 10 roles to cater for demand from businesses for its coronavirus testing kit which gives results within 15 minutes.

The new posts include scientific, kit assembly, administration and and customer service roles, and increase the Warrington company’s workforce to more than 100 people.

Meanwhile BioGrad Diagnostics, based at Liverpool Science Park, has become the only North West company to be added by the Department of Health and Social Care to its list of non-NHS providers who may be able to conduct tests for the presence of coronavirus.

It recently opened testing clinics in Shrewsbury and Manchester to meet the growing demand of its clients.

The rise in Covid-19 cases saw the Government change the rules for Christmas and introduce a tier 4 over the weekend while more than 30 countries reacted to warnings about the transmissibility of a new variant of the virus by suspending flights from the UK.

With warnings that tier 4 restrictions could be in place for some time, businesses and policymakers are concerned about the impact on the economy and productivity at the start of 2021.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak extended the furlough scheme again last week, and it will now be in place until the end of April.

The rise in cases and the renewed warnings about preventation is expected to further stimulate demand for testing kits.

AlphaBiolabs said it has been “swamped with orders” since it launched the rapid screening kit in September.

The test identifies specific proteins, known as antigens, to detect the presence of Covid-19 after the onset of symptoms or from 14 days after initial exposure to the virus.

AlphaBiolabs’ managing director David Thomas said sales of the kit, which is sold for professional or business use only, had soared in November and December with January orders also high.

The rapid antigen test is carried out on-site by taking samples from the nose and throat. The result is made known via a portable immunoassay screening cassette.

David Thomas, managing director of AlphaBiolabs

He said: “Businesses across the UK are clearly trying to manage and navigate their operations in a proactive manner. Orders for January are extremely high, amid concerns of a third wave of the virus in the new year.

“Employers are concerned that staff may have been exposed to the virus and could be about to bring a Covid viral infection into the workplace, and they are looking at effective testing programmes to protect their businesses and workforce.”

BioGrad Diagnostics tests for antigens and antibodies, and has supplied more than 200,000 Covid tests in Liverpool since the first lockdown in March.

Dr Natalie Kenny, chief executive of BioGrad Diagnostics, said: “I am really proud that we have been added to the Government’s approved list of private providers in Covid-19 testing.

“This is testimony to the strength and commitment of the leadership and the team here at BioGrad and our mission that everyone should have access to gold standard healthcare and education.”