Omega Diagnostics, the medical diagnostics company focused on infectious diseases, food intolerance and allergy testing, has entered an agreement to produce coronavirust tests.

The Clackmannanshire-based firm has signed a material transfer agreement with Mologic Ltd to formalise a partnership to provide manufacturing capability for Mologic’s Covid-19 first generation ELISA diagnostics test, the development of which has been funded in part by the UK government.

Once ready, the antibody test will be capable of playing a key part towards identifying people that have built up immunity to coronavirus.

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Omega has provided Mologic with access to one of its manufacturing facilities - which specialises in manufacturing ELISA tests - situated in Littleport, Cambridgeshire and both parties have collaborated to produce pilot batches and first validation batches.

The agreement formalises Omega’s access to raw materials and know-how to manufacture Mologic’s diagnostic test at scale.

Following successful independent validation of Mologic’s ELISA test by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and St George’s, University of London, Mologic has now submitted its test to Public Health England and NHS Scotland for formal validation.

Once validated, Omega and Mologic will enter into a longer-term supply agreement with Omega manufacturing up to 46,000 Covid-19 tests per day.

Omega will also CE Mark the test under the agreement, after which both parties will work together to commercialise the test.

The arrangement with Mologic is separate from, and additional to, the announcement made by the company on April 9 relating to the UK Rapid Test Consortium, which is to jointly develop and manufacture a point-of-care Covid-19 lateral flow antibody test which could be used "at-home" and which will be manufactured in Omega’s Alva facility.

Mologic’s Covid-19 ELISA diagnostic test is also an antibody test but will be used on patient samples sent by hospitals or GPs for laboratory testing. In the current environment there is demand for both at-home and laboratory-based tests.

Colin King, Omega chief executive, said: "We are pleased that Omega has been able to support Mologic with the development and scale up of their ELISA test. This is another example of the UK diagnostics industry working in collaboration to bring effective solutions in the fight against this global pandemic.”

Mr Kipling maker Premier Foods has seen sales jump in recent weeks as the coronavirus outbreak has driven demand for store-cupboard items.

The food group, which also makes Ambrosia and Bisto, said UK sales in March jumped by around 15.1% in March, with UK sales for the three months to the end of March rising 7.3%.

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Premier Foods made the announcement as it also revealed a major shake-up of its pensions schemes, following a year-long strategic review at the business.

Premier Foods said that during "this challenging time" its manufacturing and distribution are working at "maximum capacity" and demand continues to be high.

It said it has therefore given each factory worker two additional days of annual leave and a £250 cash bonus.

The company added: "Volumes have started to reduce from the exceptional levels seen in March, although are still expected to continue to be higher than average patterns of demand.

"This reflects more meals being eaten at home than usual due to recent measures set out by the Government and hence increased demand for the group's product ranges."

Furniture retailer DFS said it is the "advanced stages" of negotiations over a refinancing deal as it also reported a surge in online orders.

It said it is in talks over an additional £60 million to £70 million debt facility as it looks to bolster its finances in the face of coronavirus.

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The company, which shut all its stores last month, said this is intended to supplement an existing £250 million bank facility.
It said it is also preparing for a possible equity fundraiser in order to further strengthen its balance sheet.

It said the raise would be worth almost 20% of the company's existing share capital and will help to provide "resilience for a continued disrupted trading environment".

The retailer said it has also "made further progress" in reducing its monthly operating costs following talks with landlords and suppliers, as well as Government support.

DFS said it has continued to sell online in recent weeks and has seen digital sales jump higher as a result.

It reported that online gross sales have increased by 20.2% over the period from March 25 to April 17.

The company's orders have increased to approximately £192 million from approximately £185 million over the period.

Inbound deliveries of orders from Far East manufacturers are being received despite the virus disruption, it said.

DFS added that it intends to restart sofa deliveries "once it is clear there is a safe and workable approach for two-person installations into customer homes".

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