Breakthrough led by Cork scientists develops key chemical and helps avert potential Covid-19 testing crisis

A team of Irish scientists has averted another potential Covid-19 testing crisis by developing a key test chemical whose supplies were running low.

Working remotely, the team devised, manufactured and validated their own formula for the so-called ‘lysis buffer’, and now have a process in place to scale-up production for enough chemical to facilitate thousands of tests daily on swabs in labs around the country.