Towards rapid tests and a potential vaccine for coronavirus

Efforts are being made in the fight against Covid-19 with medical personnel working around the clock to find a vaccine. Local experts are also contributing to the research and finding advanced methods of testing for the virus. Head of immunology at Wits University, Professor Elizabeth Mayne, is the principal investigator for South Africa’s Rapid Test study. The study has been approved by the University’s Human Research Ethics Committee.

For the study, Mayne said that they are looking for people who have tested positive at any point, or who stay at home with someone who had tested positive. Participation is entirely voluntary and one can withdraw consent at any time without giving a reason and this will have no effect on their diagnosis or treatment. “If someone qualifies, we will send a nurse (wearing full personal protective equipment) to their house. The nurse will take about eight tubes of blood (about eight teaspoons), ask for some saliva and swab their mouths. We will then use their samples as part of a panel against which we can test the tests. Importantly, we cannot give results back to the participants because we won’t know if the tests have worked,” said Prof. Mayne.

Study participants will be given full details about the study and will be able to ask questions. She added that the point of this study was to identify which rapid and serological tests perform best. The testing team will then be in a position to consider the best way to use these tests. The professor said this may not necessarily be for diagnosis, but may be for identifying patients who have already been infected. It may also help with the team’s attempts to develop a vaccine. Mayne said, “The gold standard for testing is currently the PCR, test but this takes time.

The rapid tests, (which work in a similar to the HIV rapid tests), can give an answer in minutes, but often haven’t worked very well. “The professor commended South Africa’s response and testing for the virus, which she said has been “exemplary compared even to better resourced countries”.

Regarding cases where people have been said to have recovered from Covid-19, and then relapsed, she said, “This is something we don’t know. Some early studies have suggested that infection is protective but we don’t really know for sure.”

Details: Individuals considering participating can email Professor Elizabeth Mayne, elizabeth.mayne@nhls.ac.za or call 082 337 6349 and full information will be shared with them. Related article