Collaboration aims to fast track test to detect COVID-19 in less than 10 minutes

Current COVID-19 testing analysis is based on the standard method of screening after sending samples to laboratories for analysis. That process can take up to six to eight hours before the results are ready, and the number of tests is limited to the scarce capacity of instruments used for analysis.

Serological COVID-19 tests have recently been introduced to speed up the process, but such tests are unsuitable for early detection and cannot distinguish between infected and recovered patients. Furthermore, serological tests may risk not identifying patients in the early phase of the disease, and therefore still relies on laboratory analysis for confirmation.

In this collaboration, associate professor, Jonas Heilskov Graversen and associate professor, Yaseelan Palarasah, from SDU are leading the development of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies which will be introduced on BioPorto’s patented technology Generic Rapid Assay Device platform (gRAD), for direct Point of Care detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles in less than 10 minutes - based on a simple sample from saliva or a pharyngeal swab.
 
“We are using newly developed methods for viral handling and draw on the large expertise in generation of monoclonal antibodies generated over many years. With this we develop antibodies that selectively recognises antigens on the virus surface and shows on BioPorto’s gRAD strip,” said Jonas Heilskov Graversen, head of inflammation at the Department of Molecular Medicine.

This novel approach is said to offer a rapid standalone method for early and reliable diagnosis of COVID-19 patients, which could help medical facilities, such as doctors’ offices, hospitals, laboratories, and health centres, make fast diagnosis, so that appropriate precautions and treatment can immediately be implemented to improve patient outcome and epidemic control.

According to the developers, the rapid diagnosis means that people can go to work or travel by plane shortly after being tested.
 
Collaborations with national and international hospitals have already been established for immediate access to human sample testing. An approved version of the test kit is available within the second half of 2020.
 
”As the Coronavirus spreads in a short period of time and since a significant number of patients are infected by somebody who has the virus but does not yet have symptoms, time is essential in the fight to beat the Corona Virus worldwide. Therefore, the availability of a quick and easy to use Corona Virus test will be an important tool in this battle,” said Jan Kuhlmann, BioPorto Diagnostics COO.