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Our Story

RAPIvD was established in 2018 by Dr Robert Porter to provide world-class contract research, development and manufacturing services to the fast-growing in vitro diagnostics (IVD) sector.

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Rob's first project (in the mid 1980’s) was to assist with the development of the first ‘at home’ lateral flow test, Clearblue. This followed his father’s patented technique of using paired monoclonal antibodies to bind to antigens. With more than 30 years of experience in this specialist field, Rob has the knowledge and network to provide customers with new and better lateral flow and other IVD devices.

The covid-19 pandemic demonstrated the value of large-scale, low-cost, convenient and accurate point-of-care diagnostic tests. The increased awareness of the technology accelerated the growing interest in its capabilities. 

 

RAPIvD has a team of dedicated scientists and high quality laboratory and manufacturing facilities at its headquarters in Colworth, Bedfordshire, UK. 

 

The company is ISO 13485 certified.

Dr Robert Porter

Our Purpose

We find new and better ways to detect target analytes by helping to make lateral flow and other IVD technology:

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  • easier, quicker and more convenient to use

  • more accurate

  • kinder to the planet

  • more affordable.

Our Values

We have three core values that guide our work practices, recruitment and the interactions with our customers.
 

  • Knowledge: Our knowledge is our biggest asset, and we pride ourselves on our experience, expertise and a relentless thirst for progress in our field.

  • Quality: Our standards are extremely high… and we’re always looking for improvements.

  • Integrity: We aim to lead and never to deliberately mis-lead. Ethical and moral robustness is embedded in our culture.

Our Team

Lateral flow expert, Dr Robert Porter
Dr Tina Hurst RAPIvD
Leanne Walker RAPIvD
Bella Howard RAPIvD
Leah Richards RAPIvD

 

Dr Robert Porter (Rob)
Founder, CEO
 

PhD, Chemistry & Immunodiagnostics

MPhil, Chemistry

BSc, Chemistry

    

University of Wales, Swansea

 

Dr Tina Hurst RNutr. MICRv
COO
 

PhD, Exercise & Nutrition Immunology,

MSc, Environmental Analysis & Health

BSc, Microbiology

    

Loughborough University; University of Wales, Swansea

 

Leanne Walker
Research Manager
 

MSc, Chemical Research (Biological Chemistry)

BSc, Chemistry

    

University of Leicester

 

Bella Howard
Research Scientist
 

BSc, Biological Sciences

    

University of Reading

 

Leah Richards
Research Scientist

 

BSc. Psychology

 

University of Hertfordshire

King of Weirdos
Elysia Cartwright

 

Elysia Cartwright
Research Scientist

 

BSc. Biochemistry & Genetics

 

Swansea University

Chloe Armitage

 

Chloë Armitage
Research Scientist

 

BSc. Biological Sciences 

 

Oxford Brookes University

Katy Kendrick_RAPIvD

 

Katy Kendrick
Quality Manager & Office Manager
 

Qualified Internal Auditor

Howard Sheppard RAPIvD

 

Howard Sheppard
Head of Finance

 

Qualified Accountant

Richard Wightman RAPIvD

 

Richard Wightman
Head of Marketing & Communications

 

BA Politics

University of Wales, Swansea

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