Vatic, a newly established UK-born healthtech company, is launching an on-the-spot-result saliva test to identify current COVID-19 infections, who is infectious and who can pass on the virus.

The test works differently as it looks for the 'spike' on the virus so is a true measure of infectivity and is specifically developed to use saliva rather than nasopharyngeal or nasal swabs.

No false positives have been detected in testing and far fewer cases of infection have been missed to date. It detects 50,000-200,000 viral copies/mL compared with other lateral flow tests and is not far from gold standard lab capabilities (10,000 viral copies/mL).

It can detect infection in symptom-free people and identifies infectious people early in under 15 minutes.

The KnowNow COVID-19 test is designed to work on the spot - for example at an airport or queue for a live event. It provides an accurate result in under 15 minutes combined with accessible pricing per test based on application. The test will be CE marked and will be available to buy wholesale this month.

Although built on the widely known lateral flow platform, Vatic says this will be the first commercial test of its kind in the world. Its technology identifies COVID-positive people before they become infectious - based on a small saliva sample. Vatic’s founders believe this will help to reopen society such as public transport and sporting, cultural and festival events while keeping people safe. 

The company’s technology - founded by a partnership of UK and Danish scientists - works as a ‘trapdoor’ using the COVID-19 virus' own mechanism of cell entry as a means of generating signal. Harmless viral matter/ remnant signals will not be detected so providing a more robust and timelier indicator. Virtually every other antigen test works by detecting the nucleocapsid protein in the centre of the virus (not a true measure of infectivity and not as specific an identifier).

The KnowNow COVID-19 test is an accurate identifier of infectiousness by detecting the spike protein on the surface of the virus. It detects the virus by mimicking the properties of a human cell, ‘tricking’ the virus into reacting with it, and thereby creating a signal visible to the naked eye. KnowNow tests don't require access to power or other equipment to work. They can be used anywhere to get results fast.

How it works:

• A swab is used to collect saliva from inside of the user’s cheek and pooled saliva under the tongue; 
• The saliva from the swab is mixed with an ‘extraction buffer’ in a tube; 
• Drops of the resulting solution are released on to the lateral flow device in the same way as a pregnancy test; 
• Paired with an app, the technology will provide documented proof of a negative result or safe non-infectious status. The user simply scans their test result and the app will log whether the user is infectious or not and the time of test. (Note Vatic is ‘app agnostic’). This documentation could then allow access to events and travel.

Vatic CEO and co-founder, Alex Sheppard, said: “We are radically rethinking how people access screening for COVID-19. To re-open society and make communities safer we need testing that is rapid, on the spot and scalable. We can provide a safe robust test with results in minutes. 

“Regular, accessible COVID-19 infectivity screening is needed for us to do many of the things we are currently missing out on. For example, if we know we are not infectious then we can attend cultural events, see our family, go to work or go on holiday, without fear that we will do harm to those around us. 

“Our much-loved social institutions and services can reopen safely such as schools, stadiums, airports, seaports, train stations and pubs, restaurants and nightclubs. We are already working under commercial confidentiality with an international airport and two global entertainment companies. The test is also easy to do - so avoiding an unpleasant back of throat swab, which is challenging to get a reliable sample from, or prolonged wait for a lab test.”

Vatic co-founder and chief technology officer, Dr Mona Kab Omir, added: “The more we can encourage and enable regular testing across the population - giving people clarity about whether they are infected (and, critically, infectious), the quicker our lives will start to look more ‘normal’. Where a typical antigen test identifies the presence of harmless viral matter, our test identifies the infectiousness of the people who are tested. Significantly, the detection methodology underpinning the test is immune to potential mutation of the virus in the future, unlike tests based on antibodies.”

Vatic is backed by key investors including Hoxton Ventures and LocalGlobe. 

Julia Hawkins, partner at LocalGlobe, said: “The team at Vatic have worked incredibly hard to get KnowNow technology to the stage where it’s ready to release to market. Their combined technology and science expertise has created a product which can not only roll out and support the economy to get back to normal, but one that can be adapted in the future for on-the-spot predictive screening of other acute diseases. It’s an exciting breakthrough.”

The company has the capacity through contract manufacturing partners based in the UK to reach 2 million tests per month in Q1 of 2021 and is in the process of ramping up to potentially go beyond this.