Infrared heating of plasmonic nanoparticles facilitates multiplexed reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2. (Credit: Abigail Ayers/Columbia Engineering, Nicoletta Barolini)

Researchers have built an RT-PCR platform that gives results in 23 minutes that match the longer laboratory-based tests — faster than other PCR tests on the market. It can be adapted to test for a broad range of infectious diseases, including not just COVID-19 but also flu, strep, and other viruses that require fast diagnosis. Its targeted sensitivity is higher than other types of tests such as isothermal, antigen, and CRISPR. And, at just 2 lbs., the Rover PCR is easy to carry around and can be used by anyone.

The platform uses sample preparation techniques, combined with a new approach to thermal cycling, bypassing the standard approach of Peltier device — which heats the sample from outside the vial. Instead, Rover’s system uses a photothermal process — plasmonic hermocycling — that relies on nanoparticles irradiated by light to rapidly generate heat from inside.

The team successfully performed reverse-transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) in a reaction vessel containing all the PCR reagents. qPCR is the current gold-standard laboratory technique for identifying COVID infection. The technique provides quantification of infectious units, but it also poses a number of hurdles for point-of-care (POC) miniaturization.

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