Right now our arsenal for COVID-19 is comprised of face masks and handwashing. No vaccine (yet), no therapy (yet), no quick test. All promised soon.
That last item is pretty important- even if you don’t think so. If we could test ourselves- at will- we could make sure we are not carrying the disease before we walk out the door. And, if we are positive (and are not as arrogant or uncivil as TheDonald or Pence who feel obliged to travel anywhere even if they are COVID positive), we can stay home and quarantine ourselves.
Which is why this new development of a DNA chip test is exciting.
The test is specific and sensitive- just what we need. The DNA chip employs a coronavirus antigen microarray (CoVAM) for SARS-CoV-2- which means specific DNA that bonds to the viral DNA found in an infected patient. This version includes some 67 antigens to 10 viruses (including SARS-CoV-2) that cause us to develop respiratory system infections- which means false positives are obviated. (Fewer antigens would mean the test could be compromised.)
Another good thing about this test. Sample size is small- 1 to2 mL of blood are mixed with buffer, added to the microarray- and then the sample is analyzed to determine if SARS-CoV-2 be present, If so, it would bond to that. Then, a fluorescent die is added, so the results can be observed with an LED light and recorded with a 5 megapixel camera (with filters). Software analysis will then record the presence of infection.
Oh, and the system costs under $ 200; results are available in 2 to 4 h.
The next step is to up the number of tests per chip to 96 (from 16) and automate the whole process. Let’s hope they get that done soon.
This sounds very interesting.
Martha recently posted..Toes in the Sand
Let’s hope it becomes available to the public in very short order, Martha!
Now, if it only becomes publicly available by the end of the year.