Hong Kong-based New World Development (NWD) and Prenetics have jointly announced the launch of the Circle HealthPod - a rapid detection system providing PCR-quality results for COVID-19 at point of care or at home. The Circle HealthPod has received CE-IVD marking and will be implemented across New World Development's extensive ecosystem.

The HealthPod uses a lower nasal swab and provides results to the individual's smartphone or directly on the device in just 20 minutes. It is intended for use by both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals aged two and over.

Developed at the University of Oxford, the HealthPod is re-usable with single-use molecular capsules, offering convenience and the ability to test frequently with the accuracy of PCR laboratory tests. 

The collaboration with New World Development instantly gives the HealthPod a vast footprint, with an initial order of 10,000 HealthPods and 60,000 capsules to be used across NWD's extensive ecosystem of retail malls, office buildings, residential developments and art and cultural facilities which currently boasts over 14 million members in Greater China and beyond. 

The Circle HealthPod COVID-19 test is a PCR-quality molecular nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) that detects the RNA of SARS-CoV-2. The Circle HealthPod Trial Set, which consists of the HealthPod and one free COVID-19 capsule, comes at HK $990 / $127. The pod will be available first in Hong Kong and later in the UK and US.