Covid test results in seconds? Scientists develop new method for quick diagnosis
Premium- Scientists have discovered another way to amplify the binding signal for a target biomarker
New Delhi: Scientists claimed to have developed one of the fastest ways to detect Covid-19. The new detection method can produce results in one second using saliva samples.
The new rapid test has been described in the Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B. In most cases, laboratories use RT-PCR or reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction which has been the gold standard, so far. However, this test takes from few hours to even few days depending on where the samples will be sent for testing.
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In order to detect coronavirus, the technician needs to amplify the number of viral biomarkers, such as the copies of its genetic material.
Scientists have discovered another way to amplify the binding signal for a target biomarker.
"The new test could alleviate slow COVID-19 testing turnaround time issues," said Minghan Xian, an author and a chemical engineering doctoral candidate at the University of Florida.
"Our biosensor strip is similar to commercially available glucose test strips in shape, with a small microfluidic channel at the tip to introduce our test fluid," said Xian.
The microfluidic channel has a few electrodes exposed to the saliva samples. One is coated with gold, and COVID-relevant antibodies are attached to the gold surface through a chemical method.
During measurement, sensor strips are connected to a circuit board via a connector. Then, a short electrical current gets sent between the gold electrode bonded with Covid antibody and the second electrode. This signal is then returned to the circuit board for analysis.
"Our sensor system, a circuit board, uses a transistor to amplify the electrical signal, which then gets converted into a number on the screen," said Xian.
"The magnitude of this number depends on the concentration of antigen, the viral protein, present within our test solution," the researcher said.
Talking about the sustainability of the testing method, the scientists claim that while the system's sensor strips must be discarded after use, the test circuit board is reusable.
Apart from the fact that this method will help reduce the cost of testing, researchers claim that the new technology can also be applied to other diseases.
"By altering the type of antibodies attached to the gold surface, we can repurpose the system to detect other diseases," said Xian.
The results show the potential of this approach for the development of a portable, low-cost, and disposable cartridge sensor system for point-of-care detection of viral diseases, the researchers added.
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