scholarly journals Rapid diagnostic methods for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) detection: an evidence-based report

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 431-442
Author(s):  
Manish Kumar Verma ◽  
◽  
◽  
◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Point Of Care ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Transmission Method ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Commercial Laboratory ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Diagnostic Technologies

Since December 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a global health concern. The transmission method is human-to-human. Since this second wave of SARS-CoV-2 is more aggressive than the first wave, rapid testing is warranted to use practical diagnostics to break the transfer chain. Currently, various techniques are used to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 infection, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. A full review of online databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was analyzed to identify relevant articles focusing on SARS-CoV-2 and diagnosis and therapeutics. The most recent article search was on May 10, 2021. We summarize promising methods for detecting the novel Coronavirus using sensor-based diagnostic technologies that are sensitive, cost-effective, and simple to use at the point of care. This includes loop-mediated isothermal amplification and several laboratory protocols for confirming suspected 2019-nCoV cases, as well as studies with non-commercial laboratory protocols based on real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and a field-effect transistor-based bio-sensing device. We discuss a potential discovery that could lead to the mass and targeted SARS-CoV-2 detection needed to manage the COVID-19 pandemic through infection succession and timely therapy.

Trends in Diagnosis for Active Tuberculosis Using Nanomaterials

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 1946-1959 ◽  
Author(s):  
Le Minh Tu Phan ◽  
Lemma Teshome Tufa ◽  
Hwa-Jung Kim ◽  
Jaebeom Lee ◽  
Tae Jung Park
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
Clinical Tools ◽  
Diagnostic Applications

Background:Tuberculosis (TB), one of the leading causes of death worldwide, is difficult to diagnose based only on signs and symptoms. Methods for TB detection are continuously being researched to design novel effective clinical tools for the diagnosis of TB.Objective:This article reviews the methods to diagnose TB at the latent and active stages and to recognize prospective TB diagnostic methods based on nanomaterials.Methods:The current methods for TB diagnosis were reviewed by evaluating their advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, the trends in TB detection using nanomaterials were discussed regarding their performance capacity for clinical diagnostic applications.Results:Current methods such as microscopy, culture, and tuberculin skin test are still being employed to diagnose TB, however, a highly sensitive point of care tool without false results is still needed. The utilization of nanomaterials to detect the specific TB biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity can provide a possible strategy to rapidly diagnose TB. Although it is challenging for nanodiagnostic platforms to be assessed in clinical trials, active TB diagnosis using nanomaterials is highly expected to achieve clinical significance for regular application. In addition, aspects and future directions in developing the high-efficiency tools to diagnose active TB using advanced nanomaterials are expounded.Conclusion:This review suggests that nanomaterials have high potential as rapid, costeffective tools to enhance the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for the accurate diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of TB. Hence, portable nanobiosensors can be alternative effective tests to be exploited globally after clinical trial execution.

scholarly journals The intersection of COVID-19 and cancer: signaling pathways and treatment implications

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi Zong ◽  
Yujun Wei ◽  
Jiang Ren ◽  
Long Zhang ◽  
Fangfang Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Type I ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Checkpoint Signaling ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Anticancer Treatment ◽  
Severe Infections ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

AbstractThe outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has emerged as a serious public health concern. Patients with cancer have been disproportionately affected by this pandemic. Increasing evidence has documented that patients with malignancies are highly susceptible to severe infections and mortality from COVID-19. Recent studies have also elucidated the molecular relationship between the two diseases, which may not only help optimize cancer care during the pandemic but also expand the treatment for COVID-19. In this review, we highlight the clinical and molecular similarities between cancer and COVID-19 and summarize the four major signaling pathways at the intersection of COVID-19 and cancer, namely, cytokine, type I interferon (IFN-I), androgen receptor (AR), and immune checkpoint signaling. In addition, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of repurposing anticancer treatment for the treatment of COVID-19.

scholarly journals Challenges in Laboratory Diagnosis of the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadin Younes ◽  
Duaa W. Al-Sadeq ◽  
Hadeel AL-Jighefee ◽  
Salma Younes ◽  
Ola Al-Jamal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Point Of Care ◽  
Accurate Determination ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Laboratory Diagnosis ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Viral Shedding ◽  
Diagnostic Capacity ◽  
Commercial Kits ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Diagnostic Technologies

The recent outbreak of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has quickly spread worldwide since its discovery in Wuhan city, China in December 2019. A comprehensive strategy, including surveillance, diagnostics, research, clinical treatment, and development of vaccines, is urgently needed to win the battle against COVID-19. The past three unprecedented outbreaks of emerging human coronavirus infections at the beginning of the 21st century have highlighted the importance of readily available, accurate, and rapid diagnostic technologies to contain emerging and re-emerging pandemics. Real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) based assays performed on respiratory specimens remain the gold standard for COVID-19 diagnostics. However, point-of-care technologies and serologic immunoassays are rapidly emerging with high sensitivity and specificity as well. Even though excellent techniques are available for the diagnosis of symptomatic patients with COVID-19 in well-equipped laboratories; critical gaps still remain in screening asymptomatic people who are in the incubation phase of the virus, as well as in the accurate determination of live viral shedding during convalescence to inform decisions for ending isolation. This review article aims to discuss the currently available laboratory methods and surveillance technologies available for the detection of COVID-19, their performance characteristics and highlight the gaps in current diagnostic capacity, and finally, propose potential solutions. We also summarize the specifications of the majority of the available commercial kits (PCR, EIA, and POC) for laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19.

scholarly journals Diagnostic optical sequencing

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee E. Korshoj ◽  
Prashant Nagpal
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Sequencing Platform ◽  
Molecular Variants ◽  
Cost Effective Method ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Lactamase Gene ◽  
Modified Nucleobases

AbstractAdvances in precision medicine require high-throughput, inexpensive, point-of-care diagnostic methods with multi-omics capability for detecting a wide range of biomolecules and their molecular variants. Optical techniques have offered many promising advances towards such diagnostics. However, the inability to squeeze light with several hundred-nanometer wavelengths into angstrom-scale volume for single nucleotide measurements has hindered further progress. Recently, a block optical sequencing (BOS) method has been shown for determining relative nucleobase content in DNA k-mer blocks with Raman spectroscopy, and a block optical content scoring (BOCS) algorithm was developed for robust content-based genetic biomarker database searching. Here, we performed BOS measurements on positively-charged silver nanoparticles to achieve 93.3% accuracy for predicting nucleobase content in DNA k-mer blocks (where k=10), as well as measurements on RNA and chemically-modified nucleobases for extensions to transcriptomic and epigenetic studies. Our high-accuracy BOS measurements were then used with BOCS to correctly identify a β-lactamase gene from the MEGARes antibiotic resistance database and confirm the Pseudomonas aeruginosa pathogen of origin from <12 content measurements (<15% coverage) of the gene. These results prove the integration of BOS/BOCS as a diagnostic optical sequencing platform. With the versatile range of available plasmonic substrates offering simple data acquisition, varying resolution (single-molecule to ensemble), and multiplexing, this optical sequencing platform has potential as the rapid, cost-effective method needed for broad-spectrum biomarker detection.

scholarly journals Rapid, reliable, and cheap point-of-care bulk testing for SARS-CoV-2 by combining hybridization capture with improved colorimetric LAMP (Cap-iLAMP)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas Bokelmann ◽  
Olaf Nickel ◽  
Tomislav Maricic ◽  
Svante Paabo ◽  
Matthias Meyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Point Of Care ◽  
Rna Extraction ◽  
Lamp Assay ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Current Standard ◽  
Laboratory Equipment ◽  
Hybridization Capture ◽  
Level Of Automation ◽  
High Level

Efforts to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 have spurred the need for reliable, rapid, and cost-effective diagnostic methods which can easily be applied to large numbers of people. However, current standard protocols for the detection of viral nucleic acids while sensitive, require a high level of automation, sophisticated laboratory equipment and trained personnel to achieve throughputs that allow whole communities to be tested on a regular basis. Here we present Cap-iLAMP (capture and improved loop-mediated isothermal amplification). This method combines a hybridization capture-based RNA extraction of non-invasive gargle lavage samples to concentrate samples and remove inhibitors with an improved colorimetric RT-LAMP assay and smartphone-based color scoring. Cap-iLAMP is compatible with point-of-care testing and enables the detection of SARS-CoV-2 positive samples in less than one hour. In contrast to direct addition of the sample to improved LAMP (iLAMP), Cap-iLAMP does not result in false positives and single infected samples can be detected in a pool among 25 uninfected samples, thus reducing the technical cost per test to ~1 Euro per individual.

scholarly journals Towards Point-of-Care Heart Failure Diagnostic Platforms: BNP and NT-proBNP Biosensors

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (22) ◽  
pp. 5003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hussein Alawieh ◽  
Trishia El Chemaly ◽  
Samir Alam ◽  
Massoud Khraiche
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Diagnostic Techniques ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Cardiac Biomarkers ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Potential Integration

Heart failure is a class of cardiovascular diseases that remains the number one cause of death worldwide with a substantial economic burden of around $18 billion incurred by the healthcare sector in 2017 due to heart failure hospitalization and disease management. Although several laboratory tests have been used for early detection of heart failure, these traditional diagnostic methods still fail to effectively guide clinical decisions, prognosis, and therapy in a timely and cost-effective manner. Recent advances in the design and development of biosensors coupled with the discovery of new clinically relevant cardiac biomarkers are paving the way for breakthroughs in heart failure management. Natriuretic neurohormone peptides, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal prohormone of BNP (NT-proBNP), are among the most promising biomarkers for clinical use. Remarkably, they result in an increased diagnostic accuracy of around 80% owing to the strong correlation between their circulating concentrations and different heart failure events. The latter has encouraged research towards developing and optimizing BNP biosensors for rapid and highly sensitive detection in the scope of point-of-care testing. This review sheds light on the advances in BNP and NT-proBNP sensing technologies for point-of-care (POC) applications and highlights the challenges of potential integration of these technologies in the clinic. Optical and electrochemical immunosensors are currently used for BNP sensing. The performance metrics of these biosensors—expressed in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, reproducibility, and other criteria—are compared to those of traditional diagnostic techniques, and the clinical applicability of these biosensors is assessed for their potential integration in point-of-care diagnostic platforms.

scholarly journals A Simple Colorimetric Molecular Detection of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), an Essential Diagnostic Tool for Pandemic Screening

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pazhanimuthu Annamalai ◽  
Madhu Kanta ◽  
Pazhanivel Ramu ◽  
Baskar Ravi ◽  
Kokilavani Veerapandian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Detection ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Lamp Assay ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Cost Effective Method ◽  
Recent Outbreak ◽  
Pcr Method ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Virus Isolates

AbstractThe recent outbreak of the newly emerged novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) presents a big challenge for public health laboratories as virus isolates are not available while there is an increasing evidence that the epidemic is more widespread than initially thought, as well as spreading internationally across borders through travellers does already happen warranting a methodology for the rapid detection of the infection to control SARS-CoV-2. Aim: We intended to develop and deploy a robust and rapid diagnostic methodology using LAMP assay for use in point of care settings to detect SARS-COV-2 infection. Methodology: In the present study, we have developed a validated rapid diagnostic procedure to detect SARS-CoV-2 using LAMP assay, its design relying on isothermal amplification of the nucleic acids of the SARS-CoV-2. Results: The LAMP assay developed detects SARS-CoV-2 infection rapidly with high sensitivity and reliability. The data generated by LAMP assay were comparable and at par with the data generated by real-time PCR method. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that the LAMP assay developed was a rapid, reliable, sensitive and cost effective method to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection in a point of care as well as in laboratory settings.

scholarly journals Point-of-care testing as the future of pre-hospital emergency medicine: an overview

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Medicine ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Point Of Care Testing ◽  
Hospital Emergency ◽  
Management Guidelines ◽  
Inspection Errors ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Point Of Care Tests ◽  
Total Compliance

Point-of-care testing (POCT) plays an increasingly important role in pre-emergency medicine by ensuring that patient’s continuum of care is commenced before arrival at health facilities. Given the benefits of POCT during the COVID-19 pandemic, this commentary described the advantages and disadvantages of POCT, and its current practices in pre-hospital emergency medicine. Point-of-care tests are easy to operate, cost-effective, and yield quick and accurate response, but are posed with challenges such as safety errors, poor adherence to quality control standards, and inspection errors. To optimize the benefits of POCT in pre-emergency medicine, it is required that regular trainings are conducted for POCT operators, and total compliance to POCT handling and management guidelines should be considered by each POCT operator.

scholarly journals Fungal Genomics in Respiratory Medicine: What, How and When?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amelie P. Brackin ◽  
Sam J. Hemmings ◽  
Matthew C. Fisher ◽  
Johanna Rhodes
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Molecular Diagnostic ◽  
Immunocompromised Patients ◽  
Fungal Genomics ◽  
Risk Of Mortality

AbstractRespiratory infections caused by fungal pathogens present a growing global health concern and are a major cause of death in immunocompromised patients. Worryingly, coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome has been shown to predispose some patients to airborne fungal co-infections. These include secondary pulmonary aspergillosis and mucormycosis. Aspergillosis is most commonly caused by the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus and primarily treated using the triazole drug group, however in recent years, this fungus has been rapidly gaining resistance against these antifungals. This is of serious clinical concern as multi-azole resistant forms of aspergillosis have a higher risk of mortality when compared against azole-susceptible infections. With the increasing numbers of COVID-19 and other classes of immunocompromised patients, early diagnosis of fungal infections is critical to ensuring patient survival. However, time-limited diagnosis is difficult to achieve with current culture-based methods. Advances within fungal genomics have enabled molecular diagnostic methods to become a fast, reproducible, and cost-effective alternative for diagnosis of respiratory fungal pathogens and detection of antifungal resistance. Here, we describe what techniques are currently available within molecular diagnostics, how they work and when they have been used.

scholarly journals Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP): A Rapid, Sensitive, Specific, and Cost-Effective Point-of-Care Test for Coronaviruses in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic

Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Augustine ◽  
Anwarul Hasan ◽  
Suvarthi Das ◽  
Rashid Ahmed ◽  
Yasuyoshi Mori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Isothermal Amplification ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Paper Strip ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification ◽  
Point Of Care Test

The rampant spread of COVID-19 and the worldwide prevalence of infected cases demand a rapid, simple, and cost-effective Point of Care Test (PoCT) for the accurate diagnosis of this pandemic. The most common molecular tests approved by regulatory bodies across the world for COVID-19 diagnosis are based on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). While PCR-based tests are highly sensitive, specific, and remarkably reliable, they have many limitations ranging from the requirement of sophisticated laboratories, need of skilled personnel, use of complex protocol, long wait times for results, and an overall high cost per test. These limitations have inspired researchers to search for alternative diagnostic methods that are fast, economical, and executable in low-resource laboratory settings. The discovery of Loop-mediated isothermal Amplification (LAMP) has provided a reliable substitute platform for the accurate detection of low copy number nucleic acids in the diagnosis of several viral diseases, including epidemics like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). At present, a cocktail of LAMP assay reagents along with reverse transcriptase enzyme (Reverse Transcription LAMP, RT-LAMP) can be a robust solution for the rapid and cost-effective diagnosis for COVID-19, particularly in developing, and low-income countries. In summary, the development of RT-LAMP based diagnostic tools in a paper/strip format or the integration of this method into a microfluidic platform such as a Lab-on-a-chip may revolutionize the concept of PoCT for COVID-19 diagnosis. This review discusses the principle, technology and past research underpinning the success for using this method for diagnosing MERS and SARS, in addition to ongoing research, and the prominent prospect of RT-LAMP in the context of COVID-19 diagnosis.

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