Goodbye to covid tests, a patch detects the infection in just 3 minutes

by time news

R. I.

Madrid

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Japanese researchers have developed a new antibody-based method for the rapid and reliable detection of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, that does not require a blood sample, and that offers results in just 3 minutes.

A key challenge in limiting the spread of Covid-19 is identifying infected people.

Until now, the ineffective identification of infected people has severely limited the global response to the pandemic, and the high rate of asymptomatic infections (16%–38%) has exacerbated this situation.

The predominant detection method to date collects samples by swabbing the nose and throat. However, the application of this system is limited by its long detection time (4 to 6 hours), high cost, and the need for specialized equipment and medical personnel, particularly in countries with limited resources.

An alternative and complementary method for confirmation of Covid-19 infection involves the detection of specific antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

Currently, gold nanoparticle-based test strips are widely used for point-of-care testing in many countries. They produce sensitive and reliable results in just 10 to 20 minutes, but require blood samples collected through a finger prick using a lancing device.

This is painful and increases the risk of infection or cross-contamination, and the used components of the kit present a potential biohazard risk.

But it seems that with this new patch these problems are over, according to the study published in Scientific Reports.

To develop a minimally invasive screening assay that avoids these pitfalls, researchers at the University of Tokyo Institute of Industrial Sciences explored the idea of ​​sampling and analyzing interstitial fluid (ISF), which is found in the layers of the epidermis and the dermis of human skin. “Although antibody levels in ISF are approximately 15% to 25% of those in blood, it was still feasible that anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG antibodies could be detected and that ISF could act as a surrogate. directly from blood sampling,” explains lead author, Leilei Bao.

Researchers have created a compact patch capable of detecting antibodies in situ in 3 minutes

After showing that ISF could be suitable for antibody detection, the researchers developed an innovative approach to both sample and test ISF. First, they developed biodegradable porous microneedles made of polylactic acid that extract ISF from human skin, explains Beomjoon Kim, lead author. “Next, we built a paper-based immunoassay biosensor for the detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies,” he adds.

By integrating these two elements, the researchers created a compact patch capable of detecting antibodies in situ in 3 minutes (result of in vitro tests).

This novel detection device has great potential for the rapid detection of Covid-19 and many other infectious diseases and can be used in many countries, regardless of their wealth, which is a key goal for the global management of infectious diseases.

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