OF Dr Timothy Barkham Develops SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus Test Kit with Scientists at A*Star

Old Felstedian Dr Timothy Barkham (c77-82), a Senior Consultant Medical Microbiologist at Tan Tock Seng Hospital's department of laboratory medicine in Singapore, has worked in collaboration with scientists at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) to develop a diagnostic test kit to diagnose coronavirus infections with high accuracy and sensitivity.

Dr Barkham says the close synergy between the hospitals and research scientists was crucial in the development of the diagnostic test, and is the result of a close partnership that began in 2003, during SARS-1.

"At the hospital, our aim is to deliver a service to patients. What may work well in a research lab setting may not be that practical in the hospital, so we have to constantly give each other feedback to improve the test in an iterative manner.