A lab the size of an iPad
New Portable Test Accurately Detects COVID-19 in Minutes
Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+
In addition to the simplicity and speed of obtaining the result, the device has another important advantage – it runs on batteries. Now doctors will be able to accurately and quickly perform diagnostics anywhere without being tied to equipment or even electricity.
A tablet-sized device for COVID-19 diagnostics was developed by scientists from Duke University. It can simultaneously detect several types of antibodies and biomarkers of SARS-CoV-2 and accurately distinguish it from other coronaviruses, writes Medical Express.
Article by Heggestad el al. Multiplexed, quantitative serological profiling of COVID-19 from blood by a point-of-care test is published in the journal Science Advances – VM.
The technology is based on a special polymer coating, which scientists call "non-stick". Nothing sticks to it except the biomarkers necessary for diagnosis. The high sensitivity of the test makes it possible to detect the virus even in very low concentrations.
A few drops of blood and biomolecular lubricant are passed through special coating tunnels and after a couple of minutes the result is read by the detector.
Microfluidic chip, ready-to-use device and optical path in section. Figure from an article in Science Advances – VM.
The test detected SARS-CoV-2 and distinguished it from four other coronaviruses with 100% accuracy.
The device is completely energy-autonomous. Its compactness and simplicity will allow medical workers to put it in a backpack and conduct an examination where the situation requires it, the authors emphasize.
Currently, scientists are improving the test so that the device also assesses the level of the patient's immune response and predicts the severity of COVID-19 during the initial examination.
The method also has the potential to diagnose other diseases. Preliminary experiments have shown that the test detects Ebola a day earlier than the gold standard by PCR.
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