University of Miami Researchers Are Developing
Rapid Diagnostic Test for COVID-19
A throat swab combined with a paper strip gives results in less than 30 minutes
Sylvia Daunert, Ph.D., Pharm.D., M.S.
Biomedical researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine are developing a COVID-19 point-of-care diagnostic test.
The new, patient-friendly test will require a simple pharyngeal throat swab to deliver on-the-spot results on a paper strip in less than 30 minutes. By contrast, current tests for COVID-19 usually rely on the use of expensive thermal-cyclers, with results in five to six hours, or require blood draws to detect antibodies, indicative of previous exposure. Preliminary research suggests the new test is specific to the novel coronavirus, with no cross-reaction to previous coronavirus subtypes. The test is designed to enable cost-effective manufacturing amenable for mass production and deployment around the world.
Much Earlier Detection
Sylvia Daunert, Ph.D., Pharm.D., M.S., chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, whose lab is leading the research at the University of Miami, said, “Our lab has tremendous experience developing accurate and easily usable tests for infectious diseases such as HPV and Zika. Unlike tests that detect antibodies (IgG and IgM method), which can take weeks to manifest, our test is being developed to utilize molecular recognition and amplification of the target virus. This should allow for much earlier detection — within a couple days of exposure — providing critical and time-sensitive information to help curb the spread of the disease.”
UM researchers Sapna Deo, Ph.D., M.S., and Jean-Marc Zingg, Ph.D., are also collaborators on the work.
Dr. Daunert said, “Additionally, our test is designed to provide a read-out in a fraction of the time required for most other tests, has no technical hardware requirements, and offers high sensitivity and a simple binary paper readout that can tell the health care provider if the patient is positive for a disease within 30 minutes. I am very excited to bring our expertise to bear in fighting this pandemic.”
Dr. Daunert’s COVID-19 research is also supported in part by the University of Miami Clinical and Translational Science Institute through an Emerging Diseases funding award.
