A panel indicates the way to a Covid-19 vaccination centre set up at Dubai International Financial Centre. AFP
A panel indicates the way to a Covid-19 vaccination centre set up at Dubai International Financial Centre. AFP
A panel indicates the way to a Covid-19 vaccination centre set up at Dubai International Financial Centre. AFP
A panel indicates the way to a Covid-19 vaccination centre set up at Dubai International Financial Centre. AFP

Canada’s Laipac and UAE companies to roll out Covid-19 tests with results in 5-8 minutes


Alkesh Sharma
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Laipac Technology, a Canadian Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) company, is partnering with two UAE-based businesses to roll out an artificial intelligence-based Covid-19 test that can give a result from a nasal sample within 5-8 minutes.

The company has teamed up with Abu Dhabi's Yas Pharmaceuticals and Pure Health to deliver a smartphone-based antigen testing system known as Look Spot. It can deliver “real-time test results with 97.4 per cent sensitivity and 98.3 per cent specificity” to quickly detect whether a virus is present. It can also identify new variants that first emerged from the UK and South Africa, Laipac said.

"Look Spot's AI algorithm has high accuracy and can identify the colour signal on tests in low positive cases when human eyes cannot … eliminating the human error and manual process done with other antigen tests available in the market,” Diego Lai, co-founder and chief executive of Laipac, said.

Users can download Look Pass application to receive test results on their smartphones. Courtesy Look spot
Users can download Look Pass application to receive test results on their smartphones. Courtesy Look spot

It reduces healthcare responders' “cognitive load by providing accurate test results in an easy-to-read” format, Mr Lai added.

Similar to the Internet of Things, IoMT involves medical devices that can connect wirelessly to share healthcare data with IT systems.

The UAE reported 2,250 new cases of Covid-19 on Sunday, with 3,684 new recoveries. The total tally of infections now stands at 370,425 and the total number of patients who have recovered is 359,697.

Once their test has been administered, users can download the Look Pass application, available on both Android’s Google Play and Apple’s App Store, to quickly receive results on their smartphone.

Negative test results will generate a Quick Response [QR] code on the app, which can be used as a pass to enter a facility, event, gathering or to board transport facilities.

Through its collaboration with Pure Health, a laboratory consulting and medical supplies company, Look Spot can be integrated with existing IT and travel apps to offer real-time results reporting, Laipac said.

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Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.