Spectrum Logic wins grant to develop a novel Western Blot Covid19 antibody test
London – 9th June 2020 – Spectrum Logic today announced that it has been awarded an Innovate UK grant to develop a novel Western Blot scanner to be used in the first instance for Covid19 antibody testing. The project is entitled ‘Low Cost, High Throughput Western Blot Antibody Detection Device for Those Already Infected with COVID-19’.
There is an unmet need for COVID-19 antibody testing for those already infected with SARS-CoV-2. This can be accomplished using serological Western Blot assays in a lab setting by detecting the presence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 proteins in blood samples. The antibodies bind to antigen proteins and are visualized using chemiluminescence. This test can show whether your adaptive immune system has fought-off SARS-CoV-2 months or possibly years earlier. It is thought likely, but has yet to be confirmed, that the presence of antibodies will confer immunity on some or all people. Western Blot assays have been used for many years to test for Hepatitis B and other viral diseases. Unlike home test kits, they offer excellent sensitivity and specificity approaching 100%. High specificity is especially important for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing because of the low prevalence of antibodies in the population. The test will permit multiplexing with multiple samples run in parallel.
Western Blot as a method offers superior accuracy when compared to lateral flow serology and possibly also enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
“The Spectrum Logic Western Blot scanner will help scientists understand the pandemic by giving researchers a more accurate measure of how many people have had the COVID-19 virus and the nature of the immune response generated. On a personal level, many people wish to know whether they have already suffered from COVID-19 and possess protective IgG antibodies. With the help of Innovate UK grant funding Spectrum Logic will help to deliver these answers,” commented Ed Bullard, CEO of Spectrum Logic
Existing Western Blot instruments can be expensive and have poor sensitivity, because they use either scanning line sensors or lens-coupled CCDs. Spectrum Logic’s instrument will enable accurate laboratory antibody testing to be ramped up inexpensively. The project funded by the Innovate UK grant will use unique, large-area CMOS image sensors coupled to fiber optic faceplates for 1:1 imaging without a lens or scanning. This allows the Spectrum Logic Western Blot scanner to capture much more of the light emitted during the assay, making it more optically sensitive. Spectrum Logic will develop a new light-tight and waterproof bench-top instrument.
Spectrum Logic Western Blot scanner will be the first product of its type using 1:1 imaging with a large-area image sensor. It will be applicable to other Western Blot applications including COVID-19 antigen testing, life science research, veterinary medicine and food safety.
About Innovate UK
Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government. For more information, visit the UK Research and Innovation website. www.ukri.org