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ARCHIVED - Spanish scientists devise ultra-accurate Covid saliva test
The new test is cheaper in Spain and just as accurate as a PCR
Researchers in Spain have developed a revolutionary device that uses light to detect the presence of coronavirus in saliva samples in less than 30 minutes.
The low-cost, portable and non-invasive method can detect very low concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 with a sensitivity of 91.2% and a specificity of 90%, values similar to those of a PCR, and offers a response almost as fast as the antigen test. Best of all, the diagnostic test doesn’t need to be carried out by trained medics and no specialised equipment is required.
According to the researchers from the Barcelona Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) and the AIDS Research Institute (IrsiCaixa), the project was driven by a need for an alternative test that would combine the advantages and strengths of both PCRs and antigens, while avoiding invasive and uncomfortable nasal sampling.
The developers explained that the new device uses a couple of saliva drops and fluorescent light antibodies: if viral particles are present in the sample, the fluorescent antibodies stick to the virus. The sample is passed through a microfluidic tube which will emit a signal within one minute if it tests positive.
The ground-breaking test is not only useful for Covid, but could also be adapted to detect other viruses such as the flu, or even microorganisms in water, like legionella or E.coli, “with a faster turnaround time than typical culture-based analyses”.
A single device is capable out some 2,000 tests per day, a property which could also drastically reduce the volume of waste generated by the plastic wrappers of traditional tests.
See also: How to get a Covid passport and How to book an appointment for a vaccination or booster jab in Spain
Image: NIAID
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