Catenae Innovation confirms it has built ‘operational prototype’ of Cov-ID

() has confirmed it has built an operational prototype of a breakthrough phone app that can store and share coronavirus (COVID-19) test information.

It is expected that Cov-ID, a GDPR-compliant identity documentation exchange system, will enter the testing and finalisation phase of its development by May 18.

Catenae is working with a consortium of companies led by the Z/Yen Group to develop a product that will be marketed to businesses and “other organisations”.

The company has repurposed its existing blockchain technology to help create the prototype, which will sit on top of ChainZy, a platform that can handle 23bn internet transactions in 24 hours.

In a statement, Catenae’s interim chief executive, Guy Meyer said: “We are pleased to have completed the first phase of the technical development of the Cov-ID software and to have an operational prototype that is ready to be tested. 

“The software can play a role in mitigating risk to business continuity and building resilience for organisations. We are on track with the project and look forward to keeping the market updated with further progress.”

This breakthrough by British researchers means that by June there could be a reliable test that tells us whether we have developed immunity to coronavirus. Reports last weekend suggested the UK government was ready to order 50mln of these lateral flow kits.

Advances such as the smartphone-based solution from the Z/Yen and Catenae consortium could be crucial to this progressive lifting of lockdown.

The software would allow users to share health details with whomever they wish, including employers and health officials.

“Any person who elects to share their information can use our technology to put their status in our secure application,” Meyer had said in a statement earlier this week. “Our solution mitigates risk to business continuity and builds resilience for organisations.”