• Support Wokingham Today
  • Get the print edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Friday, May 23, 2025
Wokingham.Today
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • All
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
    • Riseley
    • Shinfield
    • Sindlesham
    • Sonning
    • Spencers Wood
    • Swallowfield
    • Three Mile Cross
    • Twyford
    • Wargrave
    • Winnersh
    • Wokingham
    • Wokingham Without
    • Woodley
    • Woosehill
    • Yateley
    A 10th Anniversary party for Wokingham In Need was hosted by Alexandra Grange on Monday. Pictures: Emma Merchant

    Wokingham In Need enjoys a happy birthday party at Alexandra Grange

    Graeme Hobbs from Wokingham Positive Difference

    Wokingham Positive Difference will discuss the power of innovation

    Wokingham MP, Clive Jones. Pic: Andrew Batt.

    Jones: I’ll never forget May 22

    Nurture Nest at Wooden Hill Primary and Nursery School in Bracknell offers a dedicated space for its pupils who, for many reasons, might struggle in a mainstream classroom. Picture Wooden Hill School

    Wooden Hill Primary and Nursery School has a new Nurture Nest building

    Hurst village store is up for sale: guide price £500,000

    Friendship, conversation topics, and coffee and cake are on the menu at Wokingham Afternoon WI on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Picture: thomas-bormans via Unsplash

    Looking for a friendly and welcoming Tuesday afternoon group?

    Groups that provide support, information, and activities for people with dementia and their families have gathered today at stalls outside Wokingham Town Hall. Picture: Emma Merchant

    Groups highlight Dementia Action Week in Wokingham

    Conagh Whitelock, 25, is wanted in connection with a dangerous driving and fail to stop incident in Bracknell on Sunday, May 18. Picture: TVP

    Man wanted after dangerous driving in Bracknell

    Bargain evening wear will be available to buy at The Cowshed's next Little Black Dress Sale. Picture: Emma Merchant

    Find a little black dress bargain at The Cowshed

  • SPORT
    • All
    • Binfield FC
    • Reading FC
    Ruben Selles

    Former Reading FC manager Ruben Selles linked with League One job

    Reading FC Picture: Luke Adams

    Reading fans – you can finally dare to dream again

    BAPCO beat Burghfield to take the title. Pic: Andrew Batt

    Four in a row for BAPCO

    Rob Couhig, Joe Jacobson

    Rob Couhig reveals new Reading FC CEO following takeover

    Bobby Trundley and his team mates Picture: Dave Allen

    It’s a podium streak for Wokingham racing star Bobby with a win at Silverstone

    Wokingham Cricket Club

    Cricket legend Gower welcomes in Wokingham CC’s bicentenary season

    Rams RFC Pictures: Paul Clark

    Rams RFC celebrate at end of season ball

    Cricket Picture: Pixabay

    Lewis hits brilliant century to see Berkshire CCC beat Buckinghamshire

    Emmbrook & Bearwood cricket club is hosting the sessions.

    All welcome at summer cricket sessions

  • READING FC
  • COMMUNITY
    A 10th Anniversary party for Wokingham In Need was hosted by Alexandra Grange on Monday. Pictures: Emma Merchant

    Wokingham In Need enjoys a happy birthday party at Alexandra Grange

    Graeme Hobbs from Wokingham Positive Difference

    Wokingham Positive Difference will discuss the power of innovation

    Nurture Nest at Wooden Hill Primary and Nursery School in Bracknell offers a dedicated space for its pupils who, for many reasons, might struggle in a mainstream classroom. Picture Wooden Hill School

    Wooden Hill Primary and Nursery School has a new Nurture Nest building

    Friendship, conversation topics, and coffee and cake are on the menu at Wokingham Afternoon WI on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Picture: thomas-bormans via Unsplash

    Looking for a friendly and welcoming Tuesday afternoon group?

    Groups that provide support, information, and activities for people with dementia and their families have gathered today at stalls outside Wokingham Town Hall. Picture: Emma Merchant

    Groups highlight Dementia Action Week in Wokingham

    Bargain evening wear will be available to buy at The Cowshed's next Little Black Dress Sale. Picture: Emma Merchant

    Find a little black dress bargain at The Cowshed

    Angela has loved visiteering with Oxfam, and recommends it as a great way to give back and meet people. Picture: Emma Merchant

    Oxfam hero Angela makes a difference

    The Forest Shelter construction at Dinton Pastures.

    Forest of Imagination set for this weekend

    Margaret Drinkwater and Julia Isaacs have both donated blood 100 times, and encourage others to join them. Picture: Margaret Drinkwater

    Super donors Julia and Margaret encourage more people to give blood

  • LIFESTYLE
    • All
    • Food
    • Health
    • Obituaries
    • People
    The Forest Shelter construction at Dinton Pastures.

    Forest of Imagination set for this weekend

    Margaret Drinkwater and Julia Isaacs have both donated blood 100 times, and encourage others to join them. Picture: Margaret Drinkwater

    Super donors Julia and Margaret encourage more people to give blood

    Christen  Forster speaks about the explosion of life in Spring, and at Pentecost. Picture: Christen Forster

    Church Notes

    Stephen Lewis (aka Box Dropper Logistics)

    West Streeting with Olivia Bailey, Yuan Yang and Matt Rodda.

    Health secretary visits Royal Berks

    People Planet Pint Wokingham leader Elizabeth Corse says David Attenborough's new film is sobering, but hopeful. Picture: Edmondlafoto via Pixabay

    Naturally Speaking

    Honest Burgers

    REVIEW: Honest Burgers bring a taste of New York to Reading

    Very Beautiful South.

    Old red eyes is back

    The house in Elm Road. Credit: LDRS.

    Earley children home plan approved

  • WHAT’S ON
    • All
    • Arts
    • Entertainment
    Siren RG1

    Siren RG1 to mark first anniversary with weekender celebration

    Wellington Farm Shop

    Wellington Farm Shop celebrates its 20th anniversary

    Two concerts in one day from Reading's APO. Picture: Pexels via Pixabay

    An orchestral event in Wokingham promises evening of drama and contrast

    Eva Wong Nava will be at Trinity Hall Church on Monday from 4pm until 5pm. Picture: Eva Wong Nava

    Young writers can meet children’s author Eva Wong Nava

    Crafters can join a project  to decorate Twyford village centre with bunting Picture: Hello I'm Nik on Unsplash

    Get out the bunting for VE Day at Wokingham’s May Fayre

    Crowthorne Symphony Orchestra's performance of American music promises to be a fun and high energy evening. Picture: CSO

    Discounted tickets available for summer concert in Wokingham

    The Wokingham Lions Club has announced its new season of  #WOKY Comedy Nights at Wokingham Theatre, will begin on Friday, October 4. Picture: Wokingham Lions Club

    Enjoy the last of this season’s #Woky Comedy Night

    A concert at Wokingham Baptist Church will celebrate Ukrainian culture and support charity. Picture: Olena Romanovska

    Wokingham to host a concert of Ukrainian music and dancing

    Priscilla at South Hill Park Pictures: Alex Harvey-Brown

    REVIEW: The true colours of SHP’s Priscilla are beautiful like a rainbow

  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT
No Result
View All Result
Wokingham.Today
No Result
View All Result
Home Lifestyle Health Coronavirus

Medical experts in Shinfield approve Covid-19 immunity testing kit

by Jess Warren
April 15, 2020
in Coronavirus, Featured, Shinfield
On Friday, April 10, Professor Karol Sikora, Chief Medical Officer of Rutherford Health picked up 1,000 antibody tests from Heathrow Airport — imported from South Korea.

On Friday, April 10, Professor Karol Sikora, Chief Medical Officer of Rutherford Health picked up 1,000 antibody tests from Heathrow Airport — imported from South Korea.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

MEDICAL EXPERTS in Shinfield have been working to validate the effectiveness of coronavirus antibody tests.

On Friday, April 10, Professor Karol Sikora, Chief Medical Officer of Rutherford Health picked up 1,000 antibody tests from Heathrow Airport — imported from South Korea.

And on Tuesday, the first 30 people in the UK were tested for Covid-19 antibodies using the cost-effective test kit.

These were all staff at the Rutherford Cancer Centre, Thames Valley. And yesterday the tests were rolled out across staff at all four Rutherford Cancer Centres in the UK. 

The aim is to quickly compile data on Covid-19 immunity, to be sent to Public Health England.

But first, the tests were checked for their accuracy.

Related posts

NHS issues reminder for Covid-19 booster jabs

WCA 2023: Covid-19 vaccine volunteer picks up Community Carer of the Year award

Professor Sikora said: “The tests have already been validated in South Korea and Germany.

“They work by having a little bit of the Covid-19 spike protein placed on a dish, and then you pour 10 microlitres — a pin prick — of the patient’s blood onto the dish. 

“The Covid-19 antibodies then recognise and glue themselves to the protein.

“If a line appears, then the patient is immune. But most people don’t show the line.”

The South Korean kit has been tested against a Chinese testing kit and a lab test to confirm their validity.

Professor Sikora explained that out of 30 staff tested, only two showed positive for the antibodies.

“This means they’ve had it, and they’re immune,” he said.

“And we did three tests. We did a laboratory test, a Chinese kit test and the Korean kit test. And these two people showed positive in all three tests. So these Korean tests are valid.”

But Professor Sikora explained that there are other mechanisms involved when human bodies interact with the virus.

“These two people who are now immune have been working in the building. Both are full time, one an administrator and one a contract cleaner. 

“Both have had symptoms and been off work for a week or so in the last month.  “Both are pretty dedicated and sociable and so why are more of our staff not infected. 

“At a cancer centre with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and proton therapy mingling is inevitable.

“So the virus has been in the building and staff haven’t been ill.

“So what we are seeing is 28 people have been exposed to the virus but don’t have strong antibodies for it.

“There have to be other immunity mechanisms at play. The average age of staff at our centres is under 30. There are reports of other immune mechanisms – NK cells, and local cytokines deactivating the virus without the need for an antibody response in younger people.

“It means that a ‘certificate of immunity’ policy to get people back to work is going to be difficult.”

He also explained that it takes approximately four weeks after infection for antibodies to show. 

“If you tested Boris Johnson now for antibodies, he probably wouldn’t have them. But test him in a few weeks and that might change.”

With testing rolled out across all Rutherford Cancer Centres, by Wednesday evening, Professor Sikora held the results for 250 more staff across the country. Data he hopes will explain the results further. 

He said that once the data has been gathered, it will be sent to Public Health England, Lord Bethell, Minister for Testing and Professor Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at the University of Oxford, and Chairman of Office for the Strategic Coordination of Health Research. 

From there, he hopes the Government will decide to import more immunity tests for people across the country.

And at $10 USD (£8) each, this bears a significantly smaller price tag than the staff-dependent lab test. 

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Tags: coronavirusCOVID-19covid-19 antibody testsimmunity testsSouth Koreatesting kitsvirus
Previous Post

Tributes paid to ‘superhero’ doctor who died at the Royal Berkshire Hospital

Next Post

Borough sources PPE supply from private sales and donations

FOLLOW US

POPULAR THIS WEEK

Twyford Drama

REVIEW: Twyford Drama’s super production of Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit

May 18, 2025
Tyler Bindon

‘Without you, there would be no club’: Defender sends farewell message to Reading FC fans

May 17, 2025
Friendship, conversation topics, and coffee and cake are on the menu at Wokingham Afternoon WI on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Picture: thomas-bormans via Unsplash

Looking for a friendly and welcoming Tuesday afternoon group?

May 22, 2025
Christen  Forster speaks about the explosion of life in Spring, and at Pentecost. Picture: Christen Forster

Church Notes

May 21, 2025
Rams RFC Pictures: Paul Clark

Rams RFC celebrate at end of season ball

May 18, 2025
Carlo Ancelotti, Picture: Wikimedia Commons

Former Reading FC manager to be named as new Brazil national team assistant manager under Ancelotti

May 16, 2025

ABOUT US

Wokingham Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Wokingham. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Wokingham Borough.

Wokingham.Today is a Social Enterprise and aims to ensure that everyone within the Borough has free access to independent and up-to-date news. However, providing this service is not without costs. If you are able to, please make a contribution to support our work.

CONTACT US

[email protected]

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Support Us
  • Book Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: [email protected], or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
  • COMMUNITY
  • LIFESTYLE
  • SPORT
  • READING FC
  • OBITUARIES
  • WHAT’S ON
  • JOBS
  • PHOTOS
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • CONTACT US
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION
  • SUPPORT US

© 2022 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.