Low-cost smartphone based mostly take a look at can precisely detect COVID-19 in 20 minutes

By PTI

WASHINGTON: Researchers within the US have developed a low-cost smartphone based mostly diagnostic instrument for COVID-19 that mixes the velocity of over-the-counter antigen exams with the accuracy of PCR exams.

The Harmony COVID-19 take a look at developed by researchers on the University of Washington within the US detects genetic materials from the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the researchers mentioned.

While the traditional PCR exams can take a number of hours, the Harmony package can present ends in lower than 20 minutes for some samples and with comparable accuracy, they mentioned.

“We designed the test to be low-cost and simple enough that it could be used anywhere,” mentioned Bary Lutz, an affiliate professor on the University of Washington.

“We hope that the low cost will make high-performance testing more accessible locally and around the world,” mentioned Lutz, senior writer of the analysis paper printed within the journal Science Advances.

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The take a look at makes use of a “PCR-like” technique to detect the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome in a nasal swab pattern with assistance from a small, low-cost detector.

A smartphone is used to function the detector and browse the outcomes, the researchers mentioned.

The detector can deal with as much as 4 samples at a time and would match into a normal automobile’s glove compartment, they mentioned.

The accuracy of COVID-19 exams has been a urgent matter all through the pandemic.

Many at-home antigen kits for COVID-19, which detect items of the proteins the virus creates as a substitute of its genetic materials, are 80-85 correct.

The researchers famous that the accuracy of antigen kits might drop with the Omicron variant, which harbours a comparatively excessive variety of mutations not present in different strains.

PCR exams are usually 95 per cent correct or higher however require costly gear and a protracted await outcomes.

Initial outcomes present that the Harmony package is 97 per cent correct for nasal swabs, in accordance with the researchers.

The Harmony package detects three totally different areas of the virus’ genome.

If a brand new variant has many mutations in a single area, the brand new take a look at can nonetheless detect the opposite two, they mentioned.

It can, for instance, detect the Omicron variant, which has dozens of mutations within the area of the genome that encodes the so-called spike protein, the researchers mentioned.

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Though exams based mostly on PCR are extremely correct, a key limitation is that PCR exams require dozens of cycles of heating and cooling to detect genetic materials in a pattern.

The new take a look at overcomes this situation by counting on a technique referred to as RT-LAMP, which does not have the identical stringent temperature-cycling necessities.

“This test operates at a constant temperature, so it eliminates the time to heat and cool and gives results in about 20 minutes,” mentioned Lutz.

The workforce spun out a brand new firm, Anavasi Diagnostics, to develop the Harmony prototype package right into a product and scale up manufacturing to assist handle the continued scarcity of COVID-19 diagnostic exams.

Lutz and colleagues hope the kits could possibly be initially made accessible to be used in clinics, in addition to different settings equivalent to workplaces and colleges.

Later, the researchers mentioned they want to adapt the take a look at for dwelling use.