British airline introduces pre-flight Covid-19 testing

Virgin Atlantic (VS) has introduced an on-site pre-flight Covid-19 testing trial for its cabin crew and pilots.

In a statement the airline highlights the testing programme which complements NHS Lighthouse Lab-based testing and does not compete for, nor divert, vital gold standard NHS testing resources once again calling upon UK and US governments to introduce a pre-departure testing solution to remove quarantine and minimise travel restrictions.

Launched on the 30 September on flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong, the airline plans to extend the trial to Barbados and select services later in October, before a wider roll out to test every operating crew at least once per month.  

In partnership with GeneMe UK, official distributor of the FRANKD test, the VS trial is offering crew and pilots a rapid Point of Care Covid-19 RT LAMP test. In independent laboratory tests, FRANKD is shown to be 100% specific and 97% sensitive to detecting SARS-CoV-2. Through integration with the digital ID platform Yoti, the test process is fast, secure, paperless and does not require a lab. After a swab is taken on site, results are processed and delivered on the Yoti app within 30min.

www.virginatlantic.com

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andreas w. schulz, Germany

Another Antibody (IgM / IgG)fast SARS-COV2-test based on flouressence would even work for crew regular and repeated testing even faster, more reliable and less stressful.