AN Upton Upon Severn company has developed a unique and highly accurate “immunity test” which it says could make a big difference to families this Christmas.

The team of scientists at Bio-Diagnostics, led by MD Simon Mico, has come up with the test, which detects the same antibodies produced by the Covid-19 vaccine.

According to the company, it will allow families to make an informed decision about visiting their loved ones this Christmas.

Research carried out by the company apparently revealed the other rapid technologies were frequently inaccurate for a fundamental reason.

Mr Mico said: “Other antibody tests, we discovered, have been looking for the wrong antibodies – unable to detect the same ‘spike’ antibodies now clearly demonstrated by vaccines to provide immunity.

“It’s no coincidence that successful vaccines have now been found to elicit spike specific antibodies, now proven to provide immunity.

“The COVID-19 BioCard uniquely detects the same spike specific antibodies, so it’s obvious that if you want to know if you have immunity right now, you should simply test for it.”

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The company’s research unearthed a second incredible finding of crucial importance.

Everyone, who from as early as March had tested Covid-19 positive when later retested, were still found to have spike antibodies.

Mr Mico added: “Discovering Immunity lasts up to nine months, was ground-breaking.

“This is far longer than previously thought by world scientists, predominantly as a result of studies looking for the wrong antibodies on flawed technologies.”

According to the Upton-based firm, the immunity test is the only ultra-rapid test in the world with near-100% accuracy.

It has been entirely developed and manufactured in the UK, and everything from its conception to full scale manufacture is done by experts at Bio-Diagnostics laboratories under UK regulations.

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Mr Mico said: “The shortcomings inherent to old lateral flow technologies have been laid bare because of the pandemic.

“By identifying their limitations and optimising the Biochemistry the world now has a more capable technology to detect trace levels of almost anything, anywhere, more accurately, - in just minutes.

“The science is now clear: to know if a vaccine has worked a test for the same spike specific antibodies is needed.

“The BioCard confirms whether you have genuinely acquired immunity from either the vaccine, or past exposure.

“No one wants to inadvertently bring the virus to vulnerable family members.”

According to Mr Mico, the company’s BioCard test has become “the logical gold standard for parents” as students return home for Christmas.

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He added: “Why rely on an inaccurate test for the active virus, when it means nothing a day later?

“Educated students will more logically recognise the results of an immunity test to be far more meaningful.”

“Both a positive and negative result is important.

“Whilst the benefit of discovering you have the spike antibodies is obvious, anyone who falls into the negative category, can make a more informed decision when considering visiting loved ones this Christmas, and decide whether it makes sense to take the risk.

“If the person you are thinking of visiting also has immunity, that again reduces the risks significantly”.

“We’ve battled all year to get the science understood, and when successful vaccines validated the logic we had seen all along – we then knew we had got it right.

“It is hoped utilising these discoveries will help minimise the risk of a third wave of the virus in January.”

The test kit is already available at the company’s test website – www.covid19biocard.co.uk – and readers can use a special discount code – ‘SAVEXMAS’ – to get immediate access to the test.