BLOK BioScience has launched a privacy-centric COVID Care solution, comprising a CE marked 15-minute test and an ID2020 certified digital health pass.
The end-to-end system gives organisations a chance to take full control of the safety of their premises through rapid on-site testing and a digital pass platform that takes an ethical approach to data.
At the front end of the system are two apps - BLOK Pass and BLOK Verify - which enable an organisation representative to check the health status of a person who wants to access their premises simply by scanning their phone. The system then checks the individual’s health status against pre-selected entry criteria and a traffic light system signals whether they are fit to enter (green), are required to take an action such as a test (amber) or could pose an infection risk and so should not be given access (red).
At the back end, organisations can configure their entry criteria around COVID-19 test results, symptom tracking, travel history, close contacts and vaccination records, as well as analyse anonymous data to quickly spot any rise in infection rates, so they can review their rules. The platform also has an open and extensible API Gateway to allow for integration with third-party systems such as HR platforms, travel applications and Test and Trace.
With studies showing that privacy concerns are hampering the adoption of COVID-19 apps, BLOK Pass takes a ‘self-sovereign’ approach to personal data, which means that individuals retain full control of their information and identity.
The BLOK Pass platform works alongside BLOK’s CE marked testing solution, which uses immunofluorescence lateral flow technology to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus proteins from a nose or throat swab. The test reveals results in just 15 minutes and has been found to be at least 94% effective in identifying positive cases - even higher for those with greater viral loads. The UK Government recently introduced rapid lateral flow testing to identify positive cases more quickly and BLOK BioScience is continuing to monitor the landscape to ensure it has the best available test.
With recent research from King's College London showing that only 18% of people with COVID-19 symptoms are self-isolating, more and more organisations are expected to introduce test and trace solutions in-house to reduce the spread of infection in their sites. Early users of BLOK BioScience’s solutions include David Lloyd Gyms and a number of schools, care homes and event planners.
BLOK BioScience is an experienced multi-disciplinary team of more than 60 worldwide experts in biotech, medicine, technology, privacy and blockchain.
Chris Justice, BLOK BioScience president, said: “The last few months have been a huge challenge for organisations and, up until now, most have understandably relied on government measures to keep their people and premises safe.
“However, dynamic and socially responsible organisations are now looking at how they can take more responsibility for ensuring they protect their people and earn the right to stay open.
“We’re working with a number of schools, care homes, event planners and airports to introduce an ethical and secure testing and digital pass solution that will build trust by protecting people’s health and privacy. With entire industries struggling, this trust is so important if we are to keep our society open safely.
“By combining our unique digital health pass with our fast, low-cost point-of-care testing solution, these forward-thinking organisations are minimising the chances of an outbreak occurring unchecked and protecting their people’s health, privacy, opportunities and - in some cases - whole livelihoods.
“It is clear that COVID-19 will remain alongside us for some time yet and, even when a vaccine is available, a system will be needed to manage the records. This is a long-term problem that requires long-term ethical and inclusive solutions to meet the health and data privacy needs of organisations and their people. That’s exactly what the BLOK Pass is built for.”
