In a new study, researchers have identified the technology to develop a detection test for COVID-19 via urine, blood, saliva, or a mouth-swab sample in just 30-45 minutes.
Results were compared to existing technology and found to be highly accurate; the test is also relatively inexpensive to develop and operate.
The research was conducted by a team led by Beaumont Health.
Results from the most accurate tests currently available take 24 hours or more to process; similarly, those tests are expensive for some hospitals and clinics.
The team came up with the technology for a rapid, Zika virus detection test about three years ago. While the need for that technology faded, they were able to swiftly adapt the technology for COVID-19.
The detection test builds on recommendations from Anthony Fauci, M.D., immunologist, and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, that rapid testing and tracing are the keys to containing the coronavirus.
The team says scientists need more testing options if they’re going to stage a successful public health response to COVID-19.
This is a rapid test that does not require expensive machinery to run and the materials for it are relatively inexpensive. The more options we have for testing, the better.
It could be used for screening at the point of risk – such as nursing homes, long-term care facilities, cruise ships, naval ships, within the school and prison systems, and by large employers, for example, at an Amazon warehouse or meatpacking plant.
More than 10,000 scientists from around the world have already downloaded the Beaumont research team article.
Additionally, the researchers are sharing their work and collaborating with researchers from Prague to Africa to South America via video conference.
One author of the study is Laura Lamb, Ph.D.
The study is published in PLOS ONE.
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