22 December 2020 - - Austria-based sensor solutions supplier ams (SIX: AMS) and Canadian virus detection tools provider Precision Biomonitoring have forged a global partnership to share technologies to develop an innovative testing device for the Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, the companies said.

The partnership will see ams' innovative spectral sensor technology paired with Precision Biomonitoring's lateral flow and digital capabilities.

The combination is expected to re-imagine mass testing devices for Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2). Initial results, on inactivated virus particles, indicate a very good sensitivity in the order of cycle time 31, which could lead to the identification of asymptomatic persons.

To create innovative solutions and support pandemic control, ams and Precision Biomonitoring are investigating the efficacy and sensitivity of a lab-free lateral-flow test connected to a medical cloud, to detect virus particles in as little as around 15-minutes.

The test is focused on detecting the virus at earlier stages of infection, before symptoms have appeared.

The ams spectral sensor solution allows fluorescence-based read out of antigen detection, strengthening ams' leadership in delivering high-quality professional health diagnostics, designed to improve speed and reliability of rapid, point-of-care diagnostics.