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Exeter University students get bespoke covid tests

Halo (courtesy: University of Exeter)

They won't have to leave their accommodation

The University of Exeter is to test its students and staff for covid-19 after it began a partnership with  the UK’s first commercial provider of saliva-based tests, Halo.

It means the university will be able to reassure people with possible symptoms but who are not infected and also identify any positive cases who can then be isolate. The saliva tests involve a simple spit sample into a container followed by the same type of analysis used for national testing. An app records minimal contact information and delivers the result to the participant. This system will provide students with a testing service without them having to leave their accommodation.

People who take tests in the morning will receive same day results, participants in the afternoon will receive results the next day. The test results will then be fed into the national test and trace system. Devon Freewheelers will be working with the university to set up the service.

This partnership is part of a range of testing options developed by the university with local public health teams and the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust. These include the potential for supplies of swabs and testing centres on campuses combined with mobile testing units if there is an outbreak.

Sean Fielding who has been coordinating the University’s testing plans said: “Offering rapid and reliable saliva tests is a simple way of encouraging more people to get tested and that will help us spot any potential problems early so we can take the necessary steps, working closely with local public health teams and health care providers. It’s a new service and we were keen to be one of the first organisations to lead this approach in the UK.”

The University has also set up a rapid response hub for students and staff to report symptoms and request tests. Investment has also gone into student health centres so that students will be able to get medical help if they need it.

Mike Shore Nye, the university’s registrar who has been coordinating the its return to campus programme said: “Saliva testing will help make our communities safer. We will not be taking up valuable NHS resources and we are able to direct the testing towards the areas of highest need. Our number one priority is the health and wellbeing of students, staff and the wider community.”

Jonathan Biles, chief executive of Haloverify said: “We have set up a quality controlled, very high throughput testing centre based at Imperial College London that can handle thousands of tests a week. We are delighted to be able to work with the University of Exeter to provide a bespoke version of the Halo service. Regular testing is the only way to really keep on top of the virus and we see the Halo system as a key part of the solution.”    

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