Scientists develop rapid COVID-19 test prototype to diagnose disease using smartphone

Scientists have developed a proto of a rapid COVID-19 test using a portable instrument for reing results with a smartphone in 30 minutes. invation could enable point-of-care diagsis without needing to send samples to a lab, according to study published in journal PNAS. new techlogy could help overcome bottlenecks in supplies and laboratory personnel that have led to long waiting times for results in some areas.

Rashid Bashir, a professor of bioengineering at University of Illiis, Urbana-Champaign in US, co-led study with electrical and computer engineering professor Brian Cunningham and mechanical science and engineering professor Bill King. Bashir said that COVID-19 tests could be possible at public events, auditoriums, large garings and potentially even at home for self-testing by using such a device.

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Need for alternative testing platforms

According to study, an important limitation of current assays for detection of SARS-CoV-2 stems from ir reliance on time-consuming, labour-intensive, and laboratory-based protocols. Researchers opined that re is an urgent need for alternative testing platforms that are rapid, accurate, simple, and portable, ding that RT-PCR remains gold standard for performing clinical diagstics to amplify RNA sequences.

“LAMP only needs one temperature – 65 C – so it is much easier to control,” gruate student Anurup Ganguli, first author of study, was quoted as saying by University website.

“Also, LAMP works more robustly than PCR, especially when re are contaminants in test sample. We can just briefly heat sample, break open virus and detect genetic sequence that specifically identifies SARS-CoV-2,” Ganguli ded.

According to authors, POC instrument is designed for low cost, accessibility, and potential for scale-up. principle of operation is very simple and can be performed with minimal training since entire assay can be conducted within cartridge. instrument was constructed from commercially available components and housing that was easily me on a consumer 3D printer.

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(Im credit: AP)