Researchers at the University of Florida have helped developed a COVID-19 testing device that can detect coronavirus infection in as little as 30 seconds. They are working with scientists at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan to further develop. A rapid 30-second COVID test could transform public health officials’ ability to detect and respond to the coronavirus — or the next pandemic.
Currently, the most accurate COVID-19 test often takes 24 hours or longer to return results from a lab. This new test is as accurate as a PCR, or polymerase chain reaction test, the gold standard of testing. UF has entered a licensing agreement with a New Jersey company, Houndstoothe Analytics, in hopes of ultimately manufacturing and selling the device, not just to medical professionals but also to consumers.
Like PCR tests, the device is 90% accurate, researchers said, with the same sensitivity, according to a recent peer-reviewed study published by the UF group.
How does it work?
The hand-held apparatus is powered by a 9-volt battery and uses an inexpensive test strip, similar to those used in blood glucose meters, with coronavirus antibodies attached to a gold-plated film at its tip. The strip is placed on the tongue to collect a tiny saliva sample.
The strip is then inserted into a reader connected to a circuit board with the brains of the device.
If someone is infected, the coronavirus in the saliva binds with the antibodies and begins a dance of sorts as they are prodded by two electrical pulses processed by a special transistor. A higher concentration of coronavirus changes the electrical conductance of the sample. That alters the voltage of the electrical pulses.
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The voltage signal is amplified a million times and converted to a numerical value — the sample’s electrochemical fingerprint. That value will show a positive or negative result, and the lower the value, the higher the viral load. The device’s ability to quantify viral and antibody load makes it especially useful for clinical purposes, researchers said.
The product can be constructed for less than $50. In contrast, PCR test equipment can cost thousands.
The research team also is studying its ability to detect specific proteins that could be used to diagnose other illnesses, including cancer, a heart attack and immune health.
