Spit on the test

New Home Test Accurately Detects COVID-19 in a Second

Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+

The patient's saliva is used as a biomaterial, which is instantly analyzed on a test strip and gives a numerical result about the amount of the virus. In addition to the simplicity of the approach and the use of the test at home, it can also be reused, which will significantly save on mass testing of the population.

Article by Xian et al. Fast SARS-CoV-2 virus detection using disposable cartridge strips and a semiconductor-based biosensor platform published in the Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B.

The development of a new portable unit test was carried out by scientists from The University of Florida and Taiwan National Jiao Tung University, writes EurekAlert. The team focused specifically on using saliva as a biomaterial, since in this case the test could easily be used at home or in any public place for a quick diagnosis.

The new product is a cartridge sensor system, and the biosensor strips located inside resemble the already available express glucose tests. Inside the platform there are several electrodes, one of which is covered with gold. It is to him that antibodies are attached when the sample and the platform come into contact.

Figure from the article by Xian et al. – VM.

The test result is available in a second. It is converted into a number on the screen, and its value depends on the concentration of the viral protein antigen in the patient's sample.

The test showed high sensitivity for both the spike peptide SARS-CoV-2 and the inactivated virus in minimal concentrations, according to the findings of the study.

The sensor strips used in the test can be reused, which significantly reduces the cost of mass testing, the authors emphasize. In addition, the technology can be adapted to diagnose other diseases by changing the type of antibodies attached to the surface of gold.

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