Monkeypox, a new virus found in the UK could be detected by lateral flow tests in just 10 minutes in a new trial run by a lateral flow test producer.

A small drop of finger-prick blood onto a lateral flow test and is said to be the first of its kind in Europe.

It comes as cases of the monkey pox virus have been rising in the UK, with a total 846 confirmed infections in England.

During the pandemic, SureScreen lateral flow tests were involved in some of the first Covid-19 flow tests to be made in the UK.

It is spread through close contact with an infected person and symptoms can include a high temperature, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen glands, shivering, exhaustion and, usually, later a rash.

Currently diagnosed by a PCR test with a viral swab taken from a patients' skin by a clinician and sent to a lab.

SureScreen said its lateral flow test uses a rapid diagnostic device with a digital reader app that can be done at home.

The potential to inform clinicians much quicker about the spread of the disease with the lateral flow tests ClearScreen app and, if successful, the tests could be ready for deployment within a couple of months.

The monkeypox trials are the latest in an ongoing partnership between the three organisations, who worked together on developing lateral flow tests and digital reading applications for Covid-19.

SureScreen's Covid-19 antigen lateral flow tests were the first European tests to pass the validation process in the laboratory by Public Health England last year.

Being part of the UK Government's rapid testing programme, are being exported to around 60 countries worldwide.

SureScreen Diagnostics director David Campbell said: "We're extremely grateful to be working with such a great team at Guy's and St Thomas' on this ground-breaking work in developing a rapid lateral flow antibody test that can be used to help monitor and understand the spread of monkeypox throughout the UK and further afield.