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About Jocada
Jocada Group Ltd is a British owned international provider of medical technology and healthcare solutions.
At Jocada our vision is to make new diagnostic healthcare, accessible, affordable and sustainable for people and the environment globally.
Our mission is to bridge the space between science and society providing knowledge, medical technology and healthcare services to 10,000,000 people annually by 2031.
We provide access to global manufacturing of new diagnostic medical technologies through our turn-key distribution capabilities, wholesale supply, and direct B2B and B2C solutions.
Our clients range from government bodies to major national and international healthcare providers, to SME businesses and direct to individual consumers both in the UK, Europe and Asia.
Testing Providers
NewGene Bioengineering Co. Ltd is a leading research, development, manufacturer and distributor of biological products. The company’s product line covers the full range of in vitro diagnostic products, including immune and molecular diagnosis, and microbiological testing. Based in Hangzhou, China, NewGene Bioengineering’s laboratory research and manufacturing centre meets GMP standards for medical devices, and is certified with ISO13485 system certification of the British BSI. Relevant in vitro diagnostic reagent products have obtained the EU CE certification.
Canadian-based Biocan Diagnostics Inc develops and produces the world class Tell Me Fast™ range of rapid & ELISA tests. Biocan envisions a world where health care providers have the tools they need to make fast, accurate diagnoses. Simply put, they want to help you help others. Tell Me Fast™ Rapid Tests are affordable, simple to perform, deliver fast and give accurate results within minutes and can be performed at point of care settings, hospitals, clinics and laboratories. Biocan’s product line includes rapid diagnostic tests for HIV, hepatitis, TORCH diseases, malaria, typhoid, leptospira, dengue, zika, and COVID-19. All of these products are manufactured in our ISO 13485:2016 MDSAP Certified facility located in Coquitlam near Vancouver, and they meet the highest performance standards of our customers and regulatory bodies worldwide. Biocan strives to innovate and provide affordable simple and easy to use immunoassays which can be performed anywhere.
Multigreeen® is the brand with three “E”s: Environmentally safe; Exceptional efficacy against microorganisms; and Efficient in cost savings. Multigreeen®’s products are made of 100% natural or nature-identical materials are certified vegan and cruelty-free. Each product developed and produced by the German company has been independently reviewed and rated by leading national and international bodies. Multigreeen® is operated by Ulti med Products GmbH. Ulti med specialises in the development, manufacture, worldwide export of high-quality products for public health institutions, as well as doctors’, surgeries, hospitals and private users. The company operates at the highest standards and its quality management system is approved and confirmed by EN ISO certification.
Jocada works with qualified research, development and manufacturing companies focused on innovative diagnostic tools, medical equipment, and health and safety products. Each company we work with has obtained the highest level of certification of their national and international regulating bodies. Our goal is to connect the producers of top-of-the-line medical and health and safety products with governments, institutions, and individuals in The UK and EU.
Jocada distribute products that have received accreditation by national and international regulating bodies including, but not limited to the FDA and BSI. All products have received the CE mark and are produced in and under the highest ISO standards
General Help
COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus. It is an infectious disease that spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Antigen tests are used to identify if a person is currently infected. No antigens will be present once the infection is gone. An antibody test measures antibodies present in a person’s blood. The presence of antibodies indicates a former infection or a completed vaccine course. They are not used to detect current infections.
Antigen tests identify current COVID-19 infections. They are a great way to regularly test your team members for a safe return to work. Antigen tests are easy to administer, and provide rapid results. Antibody tests can be taken after recovery from a previous infection, or after a completed vaccine course. Please be aware inaccurate results may show if taken too soon after a completed vaccine course.
You can protect yourself and others by regularly washing your hands thoroughly and using an antiviral or antimicrobial hand sanitiser. Try not to touch your face. If you cough, do so into your flexed elbow. Bin any tissues used for sneezing immediately. Sanitising your hands and/or washing your hands after doing any of these is also essential.
You can also wear a face covering in crowded and indoor locations, including public transportation; and maintain social distance between people of 2m or more.
If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, you should take an antigen/lateral flow test, or arrange to have a PCR test. If your antigen/lateral flow test is positive, you should have a PCR test to confirm. If your tests are positive, you will need to self-isolate for ten-days, or until you receive a negative result, whichever is longer. If you have been told to self-isolate due to close contact with an infected person, you need to complete a full 10 day isolation period, even if you have a negative test. This is because the virus has an incubation period of 10 days, which means you could still develop the virus after receiving an initial negative test result.
The list of COVID-19 symptoms have evolved since the beginning of the pandemic. The most common symptoms are fever or chills, a cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; new loss of taste or smell, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhoea.
Immunity
When an alien substance, like a virus, enters the body, the immune system is activated. Our immune system is a group of proteins (including antibodies) and cells (like B cells and T cells) that work together to recognise, trap and kill the invader. After the virus has been neutralised, our immune system retains a memory of it. If that invader re-enters the body, the immune system leaps into action to identify and kill the infection.
There are two types of immunity: Active and Passive. Active immunity is long-lasting. It results from when a person is exposed to a disease, and the immune system produces antibodies (natural immunity) and through vaccination (vaccine-induced immunity). Passive immunity is when a person is given antibodies, rather than producing them themselves. Examples of passive immunity include a baby receiving antibodies from its mother via the placenta, and if a person is given antibody-containing blood products for immediate protection from a specific disease. Passive immunity is short-lived (only a few weeks or months).
Herd Immunity is achieved when a large portion of a community becomes immune to a disease, making it more difficult for the virus to find a new host to infect. This makes the spread of a disease from person to person unlikely, and the whole community (the “herd”) becomes protected. Herd Immunity does not mean eradication, for example there are still outbreaks of measles, but it does allow for sustainable, long-term control of an outbreak.
The Herd Immunity Threshold is the proportion of the community that needs to be immune, in order to cause a decline in spread. This percentage varies from disease to disease. The more contagious a disease is, the higher the proportion of the population that needs to have immunity protection. For example, the Herd Immunity Threshold for measles is 95%; for polio, it is 80%. Herd Immunity for flu is 35% – 45%. These percentages are achieved through vaccination. For COVID-19, the threshold percentages have been a moving target. Initial estimates of 60% immunity (from a combination of infection and vaccination), have been revised since the beginning of the pandemic. Though the percentage remains unknown, and is affected by the emergence of highly transmissible variants, researchers estimate that COVID-19 herd immunity may be achieved with 70% – 85% protection through a combination of infection and vaccination with other estimates placing the number at 90%.
Antibodies are a major part of the immune system. Antibody proteins develop from B cells once an alien substance infects the body. The immune system is a fighting squad of proteins (including antibodies) and immune cells (including B cells, Helper and Killer T cells, Macrophages and more) each playing their part to find and identify the invaders, alert the immune system to swing into action, and to trap and kill the invader. If a person tests positive for a specific type of antibody (for example COVID-19), it is a strong indication that their immune system is poised to fight that infection.
There are two ways for people to develop immunity to COVID-19: infection and vaccination. As the herd immunity threshold is still unknown, but estimated to be 70% – 85%, or higher, a widespread, comprehensive vaccination programme is the clearest path to achieve herd immunity.
COVID-19 is too new a virus for scientists to gauge long-term immunity. At present, there are indications that immunity lasts for several months, or a couple of years. These estimates are based on COVID-19 antibody and T and B cell memory research, as well as knowledge about similar viruses. At present, there are too many variable and not enough clear data to arrive at a definitive figure. Data indicates that neutralising antibodies last for several months, but decrease over time. Research has shown that immune memory cells (B and T cells) remained present up to eight months after infection or vaccination. Researchers are looking at the broad immune response to better understand long-term immunity against COVID-19, but it is too soon to tell.
About Antigens
Antigen Tests work by mixing a sample with a solution that strips specific viral proteins. This liquid is applied to a strip that contains optimised antibodies to bind the proteins if they are present. The result is reflected as a band on the strip. Antigen Tests may be completed in just a few minutes up to 30 minutes. They are a fast and affordable way to indicate if someone is infected with COVID-19. However, they may be less sensitive than a PCR test.
Antigen Tests work by mixing a sample with a solution that strips specific viral proteins. This liquid is applied to a strip that contains optimised antibodies to bind the proteins if they are present. The result is reflected as a band on the strip. Antigen Tests may be completed in just a few minutes up to 30 minutes. They are a fast and affordable way to indicate if someone is infected with COVID-19. However, they may be less sensitive than a PCR test.
PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests seek genetic material (RNA) that instructs a virus to make antigen proteins. With a PCR test, a sample is sent to a lab. It is heated and cooled with special reagents to change the RNA to DNA. It then clones the DNA to allow for identification of the organism. It is a sophisticated process that requires the expertise of a technician. The process may take several hours, and may be costly, but is 100% accurate in identifying infection.
About 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic, but can still infect others. The UK government recommends people continue to take a rapid test twice per week (every 3 to 4 days). If a person tests positive, they should self-isolate to help stop the virus from spreading
The UK Government suggests you take an Antigen Text twice per week (every 3 – 4 days).
Even if you are vaccinated, there is still a chance you may contract and pass COVID-19 on to others. The vaccine decreases the severity of the infection, and studies show it reduces transmissibility, however regular testing remains a vital part of slowing the spread of the virus.
About Antibodies
Antibody (or serology) Tests look for antibodies in your blood that fight specific infections. A COVID-19 Antibody Test will indicate if you have COVID-19 antibodies, a strong indication that you have some immunity protection to fight the virus.
IgM: Immunoglobulin M is found in mainly found in blood and lymph fluid. This is the first antibody bodies produce when fighting an infection, and is a key indicator of a new or recent infection.
IgG: Neutralising Antibodies. Immunoglobulin G is the most common antibody. It is found in blood and other fluids. It protects against bacterial and viral infection. IgG takes time to form after an infection, and is a key indicator of immunity.
Antibodies are proteins found on the surface (membrane) of B cells. B cells also release antibodies, with the help of another immune cell: T cells.
You should take an Antibody Test after recovery from infection, or two weeks or more following a completed vaccine course. As researchers better understand how long people will retain immunity against COVID-19, Antibody Tests will be able to help understand if they remain present in your blood, or if a booster vaccine may be required.
The COVID-19 virus is too new for scientists to know exactly how long antibodies will remain present after recovery or completed vaccine course. Antibody Tests will help individuals understand if they still have immune protection against COVID-19, or if they may require a vaccine booster jab.
Yes. Different types of Antibody Tests indicate the presence of both IgG (Neutralising) and IgM antibodies, if the antibodies are present due to previous infection or vaccine, or for specific types of antibodies (for example IgG or IgM)
A recently released National Institute of Health (NIH) study gives evidence that protective antibodies generated by a vaccine will target a broader range of COVID-19 variants than compared to antibodies acquired through infection. Research remains ongoing, but this is a good indication that even people who have recovered from COVID-19 will benefit from vaccination.
B-cells are a type of white blood cell that produce antibodies. B cells express “B-cell receptors” (BCR) onto their cell membrane. The BCR connects to its specific antigen. Then, a different white blood cell, the “Helper T cell”, releases chemicals that tell the B-cell to divide and make itself into a clone army of B-cells that are perfectly shaped to connect to the invader (in this case, COVID-19 antigen). Many of the B cells then turn into plasma cells. The plasma cells make and release antibodies that connect to the specific antigen. The antibodies trap the enemy viruses and group them into large clumps. These clumps are engulfed by a large white blood cell called a Macrophage. The antibody-coated virus is “neutralised” and no longer able to infect cells. Some antibodies remain in your blood after infection. If the virus attempts to reinfect you, your immune system has a head start to trap and kill it.
About Bio/Eco Products
A recent study estimates that globally there are 129 billion face masks being used every month, that’s 3 million a minute. Most of which are single-use and disposable, made from plastic and unable to biodegrade. This results in smaller plastic particles, micro and nano-plastics, ending up in our ecosystems.
Biodegradable means a product breaks down into natural elements, such as carbon dioxide, water vapour and organic material. These aren’t harmful for the environment. Biodegradable products should break down much faster than other types.
Our Biodegradable Surgical Face Masks are eco-responsible and compostable. The mask decomposes within 2 months into natural particles, without leaving any harmful traces.
Our hand sanitiser and surface disinfectant are made from natural and nature-identical ingredients. Providing an environmentally and skin-friendly way to sanitise. These products are not tested on animals and are alcohol-free.
Business/Commercial
Update your risk assessment to include managing the risk of COVID-19. Where possible, maintain social distancing throughout the office. Encourage frequent cleaning of workstations and hand washing amongst your team. Work from home where possible and consider the additional risk to vulnerable workers. Regularly test your team to return to the office safely.
It is recommended by the Government that private sector employers offer access to a minimum of two lateral flow tests a week, for those who are on-site. This will help to reduce the risk of transmission by identifying staff who are carrying the virus and are asymptomatic.
There is no law that says staff must be tested, however as an employer, you can include testing as part of your workplace policy. It is a fast and simple way to detect the infection in those who do not have symptoms, but may still be spreading the virus.