Two dollars and a quarter of an hour

The new test detects antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in 15 minutes and costs $2

Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+

The appearance of vaccines does not solve the problem of understanding the "quality" and duration of immunity to coronavirus. American scientists have developed an antibody test that will assess the patient's condition right in the doctor's office.

In the upper left corner, each black dot represents one detected antibody molecule to COVID-19 – VM.

Article by Zhao et al. Single-step, wash-free digital immunoassay for rapid quantitative analysis of serological antibody against SARS-CoV-2 by photonic resonator absorption microscopy is published in the journal Talanta – VM.

A simple and cost-effective test will help control the increase in morbidity, as well as quickly identify candidates for plasma donation.

Scientists still do not know exactly how long the immune response induced by vaccines continues to persist in the body, as well as how protection decreases during the drop in the level of antibody titers to SARS-CoV-2. A new test by a team from the Illinois Institute can help people understand their risks some time after vaccination, as well as patients who have already had COVID-19.

The rapid test requires 15 minutes from taking a blood sample (from a finger) to receiving the result. The cost of the test is less than $2, and no additional equipment is needed to perform it – a simple desktop system can be installed directly in the doctor's office.

Scientists received the first successful results back in May 2020, but it took several more months to confirm the results and bring the technology to clinical use.

The test uses a serological method for detecting antibodies and can accurately determine their level even in one drop of blood.

The use of this test among the population is very important for the rapid rechecking of negative results by PCR, the determination of asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2, as well as for the identification of potential plasma donors with high levels of antibodies, the authors believe. In addition, the rapid test will help to assess the intensity of the immune response immediately after vaccination and several months after vaccination.

Currently, the team is developing a portable analog of a desktop platform that can be used outside hospitals for operational diagnostics.

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