Moscow. October 1st. INTERFAX.RU – Scientists at Northwestern University (USA) have developed a rapid test for COVID-19, which shows the result in five minutes or even less, the university said.
It is noted that the “gold standard” of testing is the PCR test, but it requires significant time and laboratory facilities, while slowing the spread of infection requires that places such as schools and hospitals be able to identify infected people “in the early days after infection, when they walk through the door. “
“Now, a new antigen-based COVID-19 detection method developed in the laboratory of Northwestern University has demonstrated 100% accuracy of a blind test in five minutes or less from smear to signal,” it said.
The rapid smear test uses a nanomechanical platform to detect multiple surface proteins of the coronavirus. The platform's sensitivity allows for the detection of various variants of SARS-CoV-2, the message says.
In addition, the university is developing a test that detects coronavirus during rapid expiration – like in a breathalyzer.
