Helping to flatten the curve is what Maria Halasz and her company Cellmid are doing, by launching COVID-19 rapid diagnostic tests that are really making a difference
In January I became aware of the rapidly spreading coronavirus and was immediately filled with a sense of urgency. I wanted to help, but I don’t think anybody quite knew what we were facing. What we did know, however, was that this was coming - as early as 2007 scientists have warned us about a coronavirus that could potentially be very dangerous.
At Cellmid, we're a life sciences company where we research drug and diagnostic development, and we were all watching the data coming in from China. What became clear was the importance of testing. So in early February we started looking at alternatives for widespread testing. There it was, our opportunity to help.
In the past two months we’ve been playing our part in Australia’s relentless effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. How? Through an agreement to supply rapid diagnostic tests (RDT); these use an antibody detection method that picks up the infection through a small amount of the patient’s blood and put into the test kit. The technology is incredible. What it actually does is look at how the body responds to the infection and the results come back in anywhere between three and 15 minutes.
It essentially means that the 18 hour-days my team and I are doing are worth it, our ethical biotech company is doing something to assist in flattening the curve of the virus, hopefully meaning we will come out of this nightmare earlier then expected.
-
COVID-19 Global Diaries: 'How my all-female, HIV-positive health workers are fighting two epidemicsIt's World Aids Day 2020 and In Mozambique there are 2.2m people living with HIV, which is why Ilda Kuleba, country director of mothers2mothers, is on mission to protect those most at risk from coronavirus
-
Hunger is epidemic in the UK - here's how you can helpLockdown may be easing, but for millions of Britons, hunger continues to spread fast. From donating goods and money to volunteering, here's what you can do to help tackle the crisis
-
Covid-19 Global Diaries: 'I'm a refugee in London and people like me are dying'Fleeing persecution in Nigeria, Yetunde James arrived in the UK with dreams of a new and safe life. But coronavirus has taken her friends, put her life in danger and her plans to build a bright future on hold
-
COVID-19 Global Diaries: 'The virus is breaking out in camps and refugees are at terrible risk'Josie Naughton, co-founder and CEO of Help Refugees, works tirelessly with her global team to protect the forgotten people of the pandemic - the refugees left exposed and vulnerable
-
COVID-19 Global Diaries: 'Why I'm helping the hardest hit - the homeless and low-income families'Elisa Khong is a Malaysian philanthropist and she's determined to fight back with incredible acts of giving
-
COVID-19 Global Diaries: 'I don't have running water let alone soap to wash my hands'Mildred Mapingure is a single mum living in Zimbabwe, one of the world’s poorest countries. Here she shares the reality of confronting coronavirus when self-isolation and basic hygiene facilities are not an option
-
COVID-19 Global Diaries: 'We're fashion designers making PPE for frontliners'In the Czech Republic and Malaysia two fashion designers are sewing their way to saving lives
-
COVID-19 Global Diaries: 'Our wedding left 42 guests struck down with the virus'Emma and Scott Metcalf never imagined their honeymoon would be interrupted with shocking news from home. Emma recalls how their dream wedding became a living nightmare for their loved ones
