Twenty-minute saliva-based COVID-19 test may be coming soon to a pharmacy near you
Researchers at the University of 蓝莓视频 are developing a new COVID-19 test that can be administered at home using saliva, aiming to deliver a positive or negative result in less than 20 minutes.
It鈥檚 a possible solution to the current delays in receiving test results and a much more pleasant option for those requiring frequent tests, researchers said. They hope the tests will become available over the counter at pharmacies across Canada.
鈥淭he use of paper devices coated with nanoparticles for COVID detection is a game changer.
Right now, COVID tests can take two to three business days to come back, and we know that鈥檚 too long,鈥� said Sushanta Mitra, Professor of Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering and co-lead researcher on the project.听 鈥淭his test will provide an immediate positive or negative so that folks who are infected can isolate immediately.鈥�
The detection platform is made of paper, which is extremely inexpensive and would require minimal reagents鈥攖hereby making it a mass-deployable, cost-effective and rapid diagnostic solution, Mitra said.
The 蓝莓视频 Institute for Nanotechnology at the University of 蓝莓视频 is working in collaboration with ChitoLytic Inc. on the research. The company has developed the chitosan nanoparticles, an important substrate for the microfluidic sensor that is needed to make the test effective for use in saliva testing.
The project is being co-led by Professor Juewen Liu of 蓝莓视频鈥檚 chemistry department.
鈥淲e are working on the test to detect two specific targets of the virus. This will bring the test to lab-like accuracy, making it more reliable than current rapid tests,鈥� Liu said.听 鈥淎nother unique aspect is that it uses saliva, which is more easily accessible than the current practice of using nasal or throat swabs.鈥�
The team will work towards making these rapid testing kits available to the public as soon as possible, targeting first-stage testing within 6 months.
鈥淭his test is literally a lab-in-your-hand that can be used to perform testing anywhere with speed and accuracy,鈥� said Michel Lockhart, chief executive of ChitoLytic. 鈥淏ecause of this, and that the tests are affordable, it can allow frequent test taking, which experts say is a key in helping monitor and keep down infections.鈥�
ChitoLytic is a supplier and manufacturer of chitosan, a natural biopolymer. They provide pure high-quality medical chitosan, and industrial grades for R&D and commercial projects, and chitosan-based technologies for various applications.
This research is made possible by funding from听听and 听.
