– Sagnik Nag, Amity University, Kolkata
The occurrence of an exceptional pathogenic human Coronavirus in the Middle East has gained novel distress in human coronaviruses around the globe. Considering the current global uncontrollable pandemic situation the researchers have fabricated two novel COVID-19 diagnostic tests. This need for a novel diagnostic test tool kit is to bridge the gap between immunity and immunization. The administration of the COVID-19 vaccine only provides acquired immunity which lasts for about a few months in the population, thus this gap of emerging infectivity and complete cure needs to abridge.
The novel diagnostic tests have two clear intentions i.e. firstly detecting the strain of strain or variant of the virus present inside the infected and secondly will help to differentiate from other ailments which have symptoms same as COVID-19. According to the scientific finding which is published in the journal Bioengineering, the novel diagnostic tests will use the cutting-edge technology of the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The test kits are easy to use and need no special medical attention for conducting the test, it is as easy as a pregnancy test. The first stage of the diagnosis is short and simple, can be conducted at home to detect the variant of the virus but the second stage involves a sensitive phase where the scientists simultaneously analyze the sample by measuring fluorescence.
The researchers are now focusing on improving the efficiency and sensitivity of the tool kit for real-world application and rapidly detect the strain of COVID-19. To provide smooth access to this now diagnostic testing technology for healthcare providers and the common public, the researchers are currently focusing on ways to scale up and license or patent their novel diagnostics.
Metadata: The two diagnostic tests of Covid-19 has two main objectives, detection of a strain and differentiation from other similar ailments like Covid-19.
Source: Mark J. Osborn, Akshay Bhardwaj, Samuel P. Bingea, Friederike Knipping, Colby J. Feser, Christopher J. Lees, Daniel P. Collins, Clifford J. Steer, Bruce R. Blazar, Jakub Tolar. CRISPR/Cas9-Based Lateral Flow and Fluorescence Diagnostics. Bioengineering, 2021; 8 (2): 23 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering8020023
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