The entire process takes about 10 to 15 minutes and could even be done by a nonscientist trained by a brief video.
By JDN
A coronavirus test that uses a microscope to analyze saliva samples will be able to deliver results in about 10 minutes, according to researchers at the University of Arizona.
The team of researchers, led by biomedical engineering professor Jeong-Yeol Yoon, adapted a method they’d developed to detect noroviruses to detect the novel coronavirus as well.
The test uses a mouth rinse method developed by Michael Worobey, head of the university’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, which has people receiving the test gargle and spit sterile saltwater into a cup instead of using a swab. The method seems to be more sensitive than the standard swab method, with the rinse method detecting the virus in about 20% more patients than the swab method, according to the University of Arizona.
“We’ve outlined it so that other scientists can basically repeat what we did and create a norovirus-detecting device,” said Lane Breshears, a biomedical engineering doctoral student in Yoon’s lab. “Our goal is that if you want to adapt it for something else, like we’ve adapted it for COVID-19, that you have all the ingredients you need to basically make your own device.”
The test could provide a solution to the difficulties faced worldwide with quickly and accurately testing workers, tourists and medical professionals and could allow for more sectors of the economy to open in a safer manner.
A number of quick testing solutions have been developed by multiple companies and countries, but often require complex, professional training in order to be used. The method developed by the University of Arizona team would make testing easy and accessible for almost anyone, even those without any prior training.
“This promising technology could allow us to provide fast, accurate, affordable tests to the campus community frequently and easily. We hope to make it a regular part of our ‘Test, Trace, Treat’ strategy, and that it will have a broader impact in mitigating the spread of the disease.” The method does not require any training and could allow civilians without any training to test their own samples easily.
