New Low-cost COVID-19 Test Detects Coronavirus in 20 Minutes

Scientists at the University of Melbourne (Melbourne, Australia) have developed a low-cost nasal swab test which can diagnose the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in 20 minutes.

The test named N1-STOP-LAMP is 100% accurate in diagnosing samples containing SARS-CoV-2 at high loads and could help in fast-tracking COVID testing. The method involves using a small portable machine, which can reliably detect SARS-CoV-2 from just one nasal swab. The test uses just one tube and involves only a single step, making it more efficient and lower cost than several SARS-CoV-2 tests that are currently available. In an assessment of 157 confirmed-positive samples by the researchers, the N1-STOP-LAMP method correctly identified 87% of tests as positive with an average time-to-positive of 14 minutes for 93 of those clinical samples.

According to the researchers, STOP-LAMP is referred to as a ‘near care’ test and is not intended to replace the current gold standard PCR testing. Despite being a robust diagnostic test for the specific and rapid detection of COVID-19, the N1-STOP-LAMP trades some detection sensitivity for speed and ease-of-use.

“In the race to control the COVID-19 pandemic, access to rapid, precision diagnostics is key,” said Tim Stinear, a professor at the University of Melbourne in Australia. “We have developed an alternative COVID-19 molecular test that can be readily deployed in settings where access to standard laboratory testing is limited or where ultra-rapid result turnaround times are needed.”

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University of Melbourne