25-second Covid testing on British Airways
The UK airline is to trial an ultra-rapid Covid-19 antigen test that displays results within 25 seconds, which could play a key role in opening up travel
British Airways is pairing up with medical tech company Canary Global to pilot the company’s Pelican Covid-19 Ultra Rapid Covid-19 test, which displays results in a mere 25 seconds.
BA flight and cabin crew will take the new non-invasive saliva tests, which claims to deliver ‘98-per-cent sensitivity and 100-per-cent specificity’ in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2. They will then cross-compare their results to existing tests that they are already taking to test their efficacy.
How does it work?
The Pelican CV19 test ‘combines the power of nanosensor and digital detection technology’, says Raj Reddy, Canary’s Chief Executive and inventor of the technology. Users put a sample of their saliva into a disposable sensor unit, shake and insert it into a re-usable digital reader, which is optimised to detect variants that have originated across the globe.
“We developed the test with the travel industry in mind where speed, accuracy and ease of use are paramount,” Reddy said. “We hope the Pelican test can soon be used as a standard test for travellers and crew around the world.”
A game-changer for international air travel
British Airways has said that it hopes to be able to offer the new technology on applicable routes where tests have to meet the stated specificity and sensitivity standards. Sean Doyle, British Airways Chairman and Chief Executive, added: “As we start to see the opening up of travel, we remain committed to exploring easy and affordable testing solutions to help our customers travel again.
“We think this new ultra-rapid test is a game changer so we are delighted to work with the team at Canary to begin initial trials with our flight and cabin crew, before exploring what role it could play as a customer testing option.”
Elsewhere in UK travel news, it has been announce that the National Health Service (NHS) app is to be used as a digital travel pass, as it will list details of patients that have received both doses of a Covid vaccination from 17 May.