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New Nanotechnology-Based Diagnostic System Detects COVID-19 Within 10 Seconds

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 05 Jan 2021

Image: Diagnovir (Photo courtesy of Bilkent University)

Image: Diagnovir (Photo courtesy of Bilkent University)

A newly developed COVID-19 diagnostic system uses nanotechnology to provide results in 10 seconds with 99% accuracy.

A team of researchers from the Bilkent University (Ankara, Turkey) has developed an “in vitro” virus diagnosis system that can be used to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The new nanotechnology-based diagnostic system, called Diagnovir, can detect the COVID-19 virus within 10 seconds with a swab taken from the mouth. It is an optically based diagnostic and identification system that changes the color of the glow in the presence of the virus, thus detecting viruses with high selectivity.

In this system, pathogens are detected within 10 seconds by dynamically receiving a fluorescent signal via a pathogen detection chip developed specifically for a biosensor device. After the sample is taken from the patient, it is mixed with a special solution, dropped on the pathogen detection chip, and if there is a pathogen in the environment by the biosensor device, the presence of pathogens with high accuracy is detected by taking the fluorescent signal.

Unlike the commonly used PCR tests, the system is not based on sample replication, but on detecting the presence or absence of the virus with advanced optical methods. In the system, optical and electronic modules that provide both precise virus detection and high selectivity in detection, as well as high-level biotechnology and material science knowledge are used. The system has shown 99% success in virus detection in pre-clinical studies conducted so far.

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