New Rapid Test for COVID-19 Discovered

The current gold-standard for detecting COVID-19 is reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test is relatively slow hindering the timely interventions required to control an outbreak. A team of scientists headed by SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research) at Osaka University published in Nature Communications demonstrated new technology detecting single virus particles passing through a nanopore accompanied by machine learning software for accurate results.

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‘New rapid test utilizing artificial intelligence and nanopore technology for detecting COVID-19 virus has been discovered.’

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"Our innovative technology has high sensitivity and can even electrically identify single virus particles," first author Professor Masateru Taniguchi says.

This method achieved sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 96% for SARS-CoV-2 detection in just five minutes using clinical saliva samples.

Using nanopores just 300 nanometres in diameter bored into a silicon nitride membrane pulled virus present to partially block the opening by the electrophoretic force.

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The change in current as a function of time provided information on the volume, structure, and surface charge of the target being analyzed and machine learning is used to interpret the subtle signals. This user-friendly and non-invasive method is more amenable to immediate diagnosis in hospitals and screening in places where large crowds are gathered.

The complete test platform consisting machine learning software,a portable high-precision current measuring instrument, and cost-effective semiconducting nanopore modules can be adapted for use in the detection of emerging infectious diseases in the future revolutionizing the public health and disease control.

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