COVID-19 testing is crucial for controlling the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as vaccination efforts remain underway. In low income regions without advanced infrastructure, PCR testing is not always affordable or accessible, creating the need for more portable and less expensive options to help drive testing efforts in these regions. A new compact testing system, small enough to fit in a backpack, developed by researchers at Queen Mary University of London offers the possibility of fast and reliable COVID-19 testing in low-resource and remote regions with a hardware cost of just $51.
The low-cost, standalone system consists of an electronic centrifuge made from recycled computer hard drives, which the researchers call the CentriDrive, two micropipettes, a thermos bottle and a thermometer, and relies on a technique called reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) for the detection of viral RNA in saliva. The “lab-in-a-backpack” can process six samples in just 90 minutes with the cost of reagents to process each sample being just $3.50. The system can run on power from a rechargeable battery or automobile battery, meaning it is fully portable and suitable for testing in the field.
The researchers demonstrated the reliability and sensitivity of the system by using it to test saliva samples spiked with known amounts of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. These tests showed the system was capable of detecting as few as 4 viral RNA copies per microliter. This research was published in the journal PLOS ONE.
“After vaccines, tests are the second-most important component in the fight against the pandemic. So far we have put up with the exorbitant prices of some of these quick turnaround tests, but it’s time to open up the competition of ideas so we can reduce costs and make them more accessible,” the study authors wrote. “Some of the current LAMP tests available, and sold at airports like Heathrow, can cost around £85 [~$114]. We’ve shown that the portable lab can be half the cost of such a test. We believe in the beginning the kits can be used in schools as demos for a currently relevant science experiment. Upon validation, we are confident it should be possible to develop commercial tests based on the kits for under £10 [~$13].”
Due to its compact size and ability to run on battery power, the system could potentially be used in a variety of settings ranging from at-home testing to refugee camps and disaster zones. The researchers also noted that the tests are non-invasive and require minimal training to conduct, increasing the accessibility of the system.
About the Author: A photograph of the "lab-in-a-backpack" COVID-19 testing system. Credit: Lin et al., 2022, PLOS ONE, CC-BY 4.0