15 December 2021 - - UK-based consumer genetic testing pioneer DnaNudge has forged partnership with UK-based in-clinic Covid-19 test provider DAM Health that will see DnaNudge's 90-minute PCR Covid-19 test deployed across more than 100 clinics in the UK and internationally in the New Year, the company said.

CovidNudge is an RT-PCR point-of-care testing platform that delivers accurate results in under 90 minutes without the need for a lab or any manual sample pre-processing.

The test will initially be available in Liverpool, Manchester and Wirral clinics then throughout the DAM Health estate in early 2022, providing testing and reassurance for all retail and corporate customers, where reliable, cost-efficient and easily accessible service is critical with DAM Health's trained medical professionals.

A further advantage of CovidNudge is confirmation of adequacy of the swab through a human RNAseP control, avoiding false negatives.

DnaNudge, a British company from Imperial College with headquarters in London, has recently obtained CE-IVD for its multiplex respiratory panel for the detection of flu A, flu B, and RSV, as well as Covid-19.

The platform technology consists of the DnaCartridge and the NudgeBox.

The DnaCartridge is a disposable and sealed lab-on-chip device that enables sample-to-result PCR without the need for any transport medium or pipetting.

It can multiplex up to 72 assays and detect every published Covid-19 gene and all known variants including Omicron.

The NudgeBox is a standalone instrument that provides the mechanics to drive the DnaCartridge and run RT-PCR tests.

It is connected to the DnaNudge Cloud for processing the test results that can be made available simultaneously to a Laboratory Information Management System of hospitals, clinics, or the health authorities.

DnaNudge was recently named the winner of the Royal Academy of Engineering's MacRobert Award, the UK's longest running and most prestigious national prize for engineering innovation, in recognition of DnaNudge's testing platform.

DAM Health is the government-approved provider of in-clinic Covid-19 tests in the UK, employing over 1,000 employees across over 100 clinics in the UK and internationally.

The medical diagnostics company is the only Covid-19 test provider in the UK to partner with Health Passport Worldwide and it has growing operations in Mexico and Spain with more global expansion planned in 2022.

They are working with the Pandemic Institute in Liverpool and Credersi who have created the world's first virtual reality Covid-19 lab training syllabus.

DAM Health is also the provider of event, sport and business testing including Rangers FC Football Club, Crystal Palace Football Club and Scottish Rugby.

They proudly support a range of charities and projects including The Hope Foundation and their work in India and Football for Change.

DnaNudge is the developer of the world's first service to use consumers' own DNA plus lifestyle factors to nudge people towards healthier choices while shopping.

The DnaNudge service analyses and maps users' genetic profile to key nutrition-related health traits such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol, enabling customers to be guided by their DNA towards healthier eating.

The service has been developed by biomedical engineer Regius Professor Chris Toumazou FRS and published geneticist Dr Maria Karvela.

This in-store DNA testing service created to address an epidemic obesity and Type 2 diabetes has now been successfully adapted for the fight against a pandemic, with the development of the rapid, lab-free CovidNudge RT-PCR test.