Developed in partnership with Nobel prize winner Jennifer Doudna, this latest method of testing for the novel coronavirus involves just three things: a nasal swab, a smartphone camera and a simple handheld device. It works by using the CRISPR Cas13 protein to separate SARS-CoV-2 RNA from the swab sample, causing a second reporter molecule to emit a flourescent signal.
That RNA is then placed into a handheld flourescence detector with a lens and a laser that magnifies illumination. A smartphone camera placed on top of the device can detect the emissions and confirm if the sample is positive for COVID-19. The entire process can take anywhere from five to 30 minutes depending on the viral load, or the amount of the virus present in the sample.
“What really makes this test unique is that it uses a one-step reaction to directly test the viral RNA, as opposed to the two-step process in traditional PCR [polymerase chain reaction] tests,” said Melanie Ott, co-senior author on a recent study about the technology. “The simpler chemistry, paired with the smartphone camera, cuts down detection time and doesn't require complex lab equipment. It also allows the test to yield quantitative measurements rather than simply a positive or negative result.”
