scholarly journals Clinical assessment and validation of a rapid and sensitive SARS-CoV-2 test using reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification without the need for RNA extraction

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melis N Anahtar ◽  
Graham E G McGrath ◽  
Brian A Rabe ◽  
Nathan A Tanner ◽  
Benjamin A White ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Color Change ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Massachusetts General Hospital ◽  
Rna Extraction ◽  
Isothermal Amplification ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Assay Sensitivity ◽  
Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification ◽  
Concentration Method

Abstract Background Amid the enduring pandemic, there is an urgent need for expanded access to rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive COVID-19 testing worldwide without specialized equipment. We developed a simple test that uses colorimetric reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) to detect SARS-CoV-2 in forty minutes from sample collection to result. Methods We tested 135 nasopharyngeal specimens from patients evaluated for COVID-19 infection at Massachusetts General Hospital. Specimens were either added directly to RT-LAMP reactions, inactivated by a combined chemical and heat treatment step, or inactivated then purified with a silica-particle based concentration method. Amplification was performed with two SARS-CoV-2-specific primer sets and an internal specimen control; the resulting color change was visually interpreted. Results Direct RT-LAMP testing of unprocessed specimens could only reliably detect samples with abundant SARS-CoV-2 (>3,000,000 copies/mL), with sensitivities of 50% (95% CI, 28 to 72) and 59% (95% CI, 43 to 73) in samples collected in universal transport medium and saline, respectively, compared to qPCR. Adding an up-front RNase inactivation step markedly improved the limit of detection to at least 25,000 copies/mL, with 87.5% (95% CI, 72 to 95) sensitivity and 100% specificity (95% CI, 87 to 100). Using both inactivation and purification increased the assay sensitivity by ten-fold, achieving a limit of detection comparable to commercial real-time PCR-based diagnostics. Conclusion By incorporating a fast and inexpensive sample preparation step, RT-LAMP accurately detects SARS-CoV-2 with limited equipment for about US$6 per sample, making this a potentially ideal assay to increase testing capacity especially in resource-limited settings.

scholarly journals Clinical assessment and validation of a rapid and sensitive SARS-CoV-2 test using reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melis N Anahtar ◽  
Graham EG McGrath ◽  
Brian A Rabe ◽  
Nathan A Tanner ◽  
Benjamin A White ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Color Change ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Isothermal Amplification ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Clinical Workflow ◽  
Assay Sensitivity ◽  
Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification ◽  
Wide Range

Amid the enduring COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need for expanded access to rapid and sensitive SARS-CoV-2 testing worldwide. Here we present a simple clinical workflow that uses a sensitive and highly specific colorimetric reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) to detect SARS-CoV-2 and takes forty minutes from sample collection to result. This test requires no specialized equipment and costs a few dollars per sample. Nasopharyngeal samples collected in saline were added either directly (unprocessed) to RT-LAMP reactions or first inactivated by a combined chemical and heat treatment step to inhibit RNases and lyse virions and human cells. The specimens were then amplified with two SARS-CoV-2-specific primer sets and an internal specimen control; the resulting color change was visually interpreted. While direct addition of unprocessed specimens to RT-LAMP reactions could reliably detect samples with abundant SARS-CoV-2, the assay sensitivity markedly increased after the addition of an inactivation step. In 62 clinical samples with a wide range of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid concentrations, the assay had 87.5% sensitivity and 100% specificity with a limit of detection at least 25 copies/μL, making it an ideal test to rule in infection. To increase sensitivity, samples that tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 by direct sample addition could be reflexed to a purification step, to increase the effective per-reaction sample input volume. In 40 purified samples, the assay yielded a 90% sensitivity and 100% specificity, with a limit of detection comparable to commercially available real-time PCR-based diagnostics that have received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA. This test for SARS-CoV-2 can be performed in a range of settings for a fraction of the price of other available tests, with limited equipment, and without relying on over-burdened supply chains to increase overall testing capacity.

scholarly journals Rapid and Extraction-Free Detection of SARS-CoV-2 from Saliva by Colorimetric Reverse-Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew A Lalli ◽  
Joshua S Langmade ◽  
Xuhua Chen ◽  
Catrina C Fronick ◽  
Christopher S Sawyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Colorimetric Assay ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Rna Extraction ◽  
Lamp Assay ◽  
Isothermal Amplification ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Viral Detection ◽  
Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification

Abstract Background Rapid, reliable, and widespread testing is required to curtail the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Current gold-standard nucleic acid tests are hampered by supply shortages in critical reagents including nasal swabs, RNA extraction kits, personal protective equipment, instrumentation, and labor. Methods To overcome these challenges, we developed a rapid colorimetric assay using reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) optimized on human saliva samples without an RNA purification step. We describe the optimization of saliva pretreatment protocols to enable analytically sensitive viral detection by RT-LAMP. We optimized the RT-LAMP reaction conditions and implemented high-throughput unbiased methods for assay interpretation. We tested whether saliva pretreatment could also enable viral detection by conventional reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Finally, we validated these assays on clinical samples. Results The optimized saliva pretreatment protocol enabled analytically sensitive extraction-free detection of SARS-CoV-2 from saliva by colorimetric RT-LAMP or RT-qPCR. In simulated samples, the optimized RT-LAMP assay had a limit of detection of 59 (95% confidence interval: 44–104) particle copies per reaction. We highlighted the flexibility of LAMP assay implementation using 3 readouts: naked-eye colorimetry, spectrophotometry, and real-time fluorescence. In a set of 30 clinical saliva samples, colorimetric RT-LAMP and RT-qPCR assays performed directly on pretreated saliva samples without RNA extraction had accuracies greater than 90%. Conclusions Rapid and extraction-free detection of SARS-CoV-2 from saliva by colorimetric RT-LAMP is a simple, sensitive, and cost-effective approach with broad potential to expand diagnostic testing for the virus causing COVID-19.

scholarly journals Rapid and Visual Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Using Multiplex Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Linked With Gold Nanoparticle-Based Lateral Flow Biosensor

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu Chen ◽  
Qingxue Zhou ◽  
Shijun Li ◽  
Hao Yan ◽  
Bingcheng Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Rna Extraction ◽  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Isothermal Amplification ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification ◽  
The World ◽  
And Control

BackgroundSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus that has caused the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) all over the world. In the absence of appropriate antiviral drugs or vaccines, developing a simple, rapid, and reliable assay for SARS-CoV-2 is necessary for the prevention and control of the COVID-19 transmission.MethodsA novel molecular diagnosis technique, named multiplex reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification, that has been linked to a nanoparticle-based lateral flow biosensor (mRT-LAMP-LFB) was applied to detect SARS-CoV-2 based on the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp and N genes, and the mRT-LAMP products were analyzed using nanoparticle-based lateral flow biosensor. The mRT-LAMP-LFB amplification conditions, including the target RNA concentration, amplification temperature, and time were optimized. The sensitivity and specificity of the mRT-LAMP-LFB method were tested in the current study, and the mRT-LAMP-LFB assay was applied to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus from clinical samples and artificial sputum samples.ResultsThe SARS-CoV-2 specific primers based on the RdRp and N genes were valid for the establishment of mRT-LAMP-LFB assay to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The multiple-RT-LAMP amplification condition was optimized at 63°C for 30 min. The full process, including reaction preparation, viral RNA extraction, RT-LAMP, and product identification, could be achieved in 80 min. The limit of detection (LoD) of the mRT-LAMP-LFB technology was 20 copies per reaction. The specificity of mRT-LAMP-LFB detection was 100%, and no cross-reactions to other respiratory pathogens were observed.ConclusionThe mRT-LAMP-LFB technique developed in the current study is a simple, rapid, and reliable method with great specificity and sensitivity when it comes to identifying SARS-CoV-2 virus for prevention and control of the COVID-19 disease, especially in resource-constrained regions of the world.

scholarly journals Development and validation of a one-step reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) for rapid detection of ZIKV in patient samples from Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Severino Jefferson Ribeiro da Silva ◽  
Keith Pardee ◽  
Udeni B. R. Balasuriya ◽  
Lindomar Pena
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Rapid Detection ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Rna Extraction ◽  
Lamp Assay ◽  
Isothermal Amplification ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Low Resource ◽  
Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification ◽  
One Step

AbstractWe have previously developed and validated a one-step assay based on reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) for rapid detection of the Zika virus (ZIKV) from mosquito samples. Patient diagnosis of ZIKV is currently carried out in centralized laboratories using the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), which, while the gold standard molecular method, has several drawbacks for use in remote and low-resource settings, such as high cost and the need of specialized equipment. Point-of-care (POC) diagnostic platforms have the potential to overcome these limitations, especially in low-resource countries where ZIKV is endemic. With this in mind, here we optimized and validated our RT-LAMP assay for rapid detection of ZIKV from patient samples. We found that the assay detected ZIKV from diverse sample types (serum, urine, saliva, and semen) in as little as 20 min, without RNA extraction. The RT-LAMP assay was highly specific and up to 100 times more sensitive than RT-qPCR. We then validated the assay using 100 patient serum samples collected from suspected cases of arbovirus infection in the state of Pernambuco, which was at the epicenter of the last Zika epidemic. Analysis of the results, in comparison to RT-qPCR, found that the ZIKV RT-LAMP assay provided sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 93.75%, and an overall accuracy of 95.00%. Taken together, the RT-LAMP assay provides a straightforward and inexpensive alternative for the diagnosis of ZIKV from patients and has the potential to increase diagnostic capacity in ZIKV-affected areas, particularly in low and middle-income countries.

scholarly journals Essential properties and pitfalls of colorimetric Reverse Transcription Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification as a point-of-care test for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruna de Oliveira Coelho ◽  
Heloisa Bruna Soligo Sanchuki ◽  
Dalila Luciola Zanette ◽  
Jeanine Marie Nardin ◽  
Hugo Manuel Paz Morales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Viral Load ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Color Change ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Colorimetric Detection ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Isothermal Amplification ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification

Abstract Background SARS-CoV-2 Reverse Transcription Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (RT-LAMP) colorimetric detection is a sensitive and specific point-of-care molecular biology technique used to detect the virus in only 30 min. In this manuscript we have described a few nuances of the technique still not properly described in the literature: the presence of three colors clusters; the correlation of the viral load with the color change; and the importance of using an internal control to avoid false-negative results. Methods To achieve these findings, we performed colorimetric RT-LAMP assays of 466 SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR validated clinical samples, with color quantification measured at 434 nm and 560 nm. Results First we determinate a sensitivity of 93.8% and specificity of 90.4%. In addition to the pink (negative) and yellow (positive) produced colors, we report for the first time the presence of an orange color cluster that may lead to wrong diagnosis. We also demonstrated using RT-qPCR and RT-LAMP that low viral loads are related to Ct values > 30, resulting in orange colors. We also demonstrated that the diagnosis of COVID-19 by colorimetric RT-LAMP is efficient until the fifth symptoms day when the viral load is still relatively high. Conclusion This study reports properties and indications for colorimetric RT-LAMP as point-of-care for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic, reducing false results, interpretations and optimizing molecular diagnostics tests application.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 Direct Detection Without RNA Isolation With Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) and CRISPR-Cas12

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfredo Garcia-Venzor ◽  
Bertha Rueda-Zarazua ◽  
Eduardo Marquez-Garcia ◽  
Vilma Maldonado ◽  
Angelica Moncada-Morales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Direct Detection ◽  
Direct Method ◽  
Rna Extraction ◽  
Rna Isolation ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
Isothermal Amplification ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification

As to date, more than 49 million confirmed cases of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) have been reported worldwide. Current diagnostic protocols use qRT-PCR for viral RNA detection, which is expensive and requires sophisticated equipment, trained personnel and previous RNA extraction. For this reason, we need a faster, direct and more versatile detection method for better epidemiological management of the COVID-19 outbreak. In this work, we propose a direct method without RNA extraction, based on the Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-CRISPR associated protein (CRISPR-Cas12) technique that allows the fast detection of SARS-CoV-2 from patient samples with high sensitivity and specificity. We obtained a limit of detection of 16 copies/μL with high specificity and at an affordable cost. The diagnostic test readout can be done with a real-time PCR thermocycler or with the naked eye in a blue-light transilluminator. Our method has been evaluated on a small set of clinical samples with promising results.

scholarly journals Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification for the Detection of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 350-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Rovira ◽  
Juan Abrahante ◽  
Michael Murtaugh ◽  
Muñoz-Zanzi Claudia
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Restriction Analysis ◽  
Dna Amplification ◽  
Lamp Reaction ◽  
Isothermal Amplification ◽  
Respiratory Syndrome Virus ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is an important pathogen of swine. The objective of the current study is to investigate the feasibility of using reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) for the detection of PRRSV. The RT-LAMP is a recently described DNA amplification technique reported to be simple, inexpensive, fast, and accurate. The RT-LAMP reaction was set up using 2 sets of primers that were designed to detect North American and European strains of PRRSV and performed successfully in a simple heat block. The specificity of the amplified product was demonstrated by restriction analysis. The RT-LAMP was able to detect 5 different PRRSV isolates. However, the limit of detection ranged between 10 2 and 10 4 50% tissue culture infective dose/ml. The RT-LAMP was further evaluated using serum samples from animals of known infection status. The ability of RT-LAMP to detect PRRSV in serum from acutely infected animals was evaluated with 114 serum samples from 18 experimentally inoculated boars. Forty-nine of these samples tested positive by RT-LAMP, while 94 were positive by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The diagnostic specificity, evaluated with 100 known negative serum samples, was estimated as 99%. The feasibility of RT-LAMP to detect PRRSV was demonstrated in the current study. The RT-LAMP reaction could be performed in just 1 hr with a simple and inexpensive heat block. However, the sensitivity of this technique was significantly lower than that of RT-PCR.

scholarly journals Optimization and Clinical Validation of Colorimetric Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification, a Fast, Highly Sensitive and Specific COVID-19 Molecular Diagnostic Tool That Is Robust to Detect SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro A. Alves ◽  
Ellen G. de Oliveira ◽  
Ana Paula M. Franco-Luiz ◽  
Letícia T. Almeida ◽  
Amanda B. Gonçalves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Isothermal Amplification ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Molecular Diagnostic ◽  
Clinical Validation ◽  
Rna Detection ◽  
Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification ◽  
Viral Transport Medium

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic unfolded due to the widespread severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission reinforced the urgent need for affordable molecular diagnostic alternative methods for massive testing screening. We present the clinical validation of a pH-dependent colorimetric reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) for SARS-CoV-2 detection. The method revealed a limit of detection of 19.3 ± 2.7 viral genomic copies/μL when using RNA extracted samples obtained from nasopharyngeal swabs collected in guanidine-containing viral transport medium. Typical RT-LAMP reactions were performed at 65°C for 30 min. When compared to reverse transcriptase–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), up to cycle-threshold (Ct) value 32, RT-LAMP presented 98% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 95.3–99.5%] sensitivity and 100% (95% CI = 94.5–100%) specificity for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection targeting E and N genes. No cross-reactivity was detected when testing other non–SARS-CoV virus, confirming high specificity. The test is compatible with primary RNA extraction–free samples. We also demonstrated that colorimetric RT-LAMP can detect SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants of interest, such as variants occurring in Brazil named gamma (P.1), zeta (P.2), delta (B.1.617.2), B.1.1.374, and B.1.1.371. The method meets point-of-care requirements and can be deployed in the field for high-throughput COVID-19 testing campaigns, especially in countries where COVID-19 testing efforts are far from ideal to tackle the pandemics. Although RT-qPCR is considered the gold standard for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection, it requires expensive equipment, infrastructure, and highly trained personnel. In contrast, RT-LAMP emerges as an affordable, inexpensive, and simple alternative for SARS-CoV-2 molecular detection that can be applied to massive COVID-19 testing campaigns and save lives.

scholarly journals Validation of a single-step, single-tube reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Y. H. Lee ◽  
Nickala Best ◽  
Julie McAuley ◽  
Jessica L. Porter ◽  
Torsten Seemann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Rapid Detection ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Isothermal Amplification ◽  
N Gene ◽  
Assay Sensitivity ◽  
Single Tube ◽  
Clinical Specimens ◽  
Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification

2.AbstractIntroductionThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic of 2020 has resulted in unparalleled requirements for RNA extraction kits and enzymes required for virus detection, leading to global shortages. This has necessitated the exploration of alternative diagnostic options to alleviate supply chain issues.AimTo establish and validate a reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 from nasopharyngeal swabs.MethodologyWe used a commercial RT-LAMP mastermix from OptiGene Ltd in combination with a primer set designed to detect the CDC N1 region of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) gene. A single-tube, single-step fluorescence assay was implemented whereby as little as 1 μL of universal transport medium (UTM) directly from a nasopharyngeal swab could be used as template, bypassing the requirement for RNA purification. Amplification and detection could be conducted in any thermocycler capable of holding 65°C for 30 minutes and measure fluorescence in the FAM channel at one-minute intervals.ResultsAssay evaluation by assessment of 157 clinical specimens previously screened by E-gene RT-qPCR revealed assay sensitivity and specificity of 87% and 100%, respectively. Results were fast, with an average time-to-positive (Tp) for 93 clinical samples of 14 minutes (SD ±7 minutes). Using dilutions of SARS-CoV-2 virus spiked into UTM, we also evaluated assay performance against FDA guidelines for implementation of emergency-use diagnostics and established a limit-of-detection of 54 Tissue Culture Infectious Dose 50 per ml (TCID50 mL−1), with satisfactory assay sensitivity and specificity. A comparison of 20 clinical specimens between four laboratories showed excellent interlaboratory concordance; performing equally well on three different, commonly used thermocyclers, pointing to the robustness of the assay.ConclusionWith a simplified workflow, N1-STOP-LAMP is a powerful, scalable option for specific and rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 and an additional resource in the diagnostic armamentarium against COVID-19.3.Data summaryThe authors confirm all supporting data, code and protocols have been provided within the article or through supplementary data files.

scholarly journals Rapid Isothermal Amplification and Portable Detection System for SARS-CoV-2

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ganguli ◽  
A. Mostafa ◽  
J. Berger ◽  
M. Aydin ◽  
F. Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Detection System ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Rna Extraction ◽  
Clinical Diagnostics ◽  
Isothermal Amplification ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Point Of Use ◽  
Viral Transport Medium

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic provides an urgent example where a gap exists between availability of state-of-the-art diagnostics and current needs. As assay details and primer sequences become widely known, many laboratories could perform diagnostic tests using methods such as RT-PCR or isothermal RT-LAMP amplification. A key advantage of RT-LAMP based approaches compared to RT-PCR is that RT-LAMP is known to be robust in detecting targets from unprocessed samples. In addition, RT-LAMP assays are performed at a constant temperature enabling speed, simplicity, and point-of-use testing. Here, we provide the details of an RT-LAMP isothermal assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus with performance comparable to currently approved tests using RT-PCR. We characterize the assay by introducing swabs in virus spiked synthetic nasal fluids, moving the swab to viral transport medium (VTM), and using a volume of that VTM for performing the amplification without an RNA extraction kit. The assay has a Limit-of-Detection (LOD) of 50 RNA copies/μL in the VTM solution within 20 minutes, and LOD of 5000 RNA copies/μL in the nasal solution. Additionally, we show the utility of this assay for real-time point-of-use testing by demonstrating detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus in less than 40 minutes using an additively manufactured cartridge and a smartphone-based reader. Finally, we explore the speed and cost advantages by comparing the required resources and workflows with RT-PCR. This work could accelerate the development and availability of SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics by proving alternatives to conventional laboratory benchtop tests.Significance StatementAn important limitation of the current assays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 stem from their reliance on time- and labor-intensive and laboratory-based protocols for viral isolation, lysis, and removal of inhibiting materials. While RT-PCR remains the gold standard for performing clinical diagnostics to amplify the RNA sequences, there is an urgent need for alternative portable platforms that can provide rapid and accurate diagnosis, potentially at the point-of-use. Here, we present the details of an isothermal amplification-based detection of SARS-CoV-2, including the demonstration of a smartphone-based point-of-care device that can be used at the point of sample collection.

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