CRISPR-Based COVID-19 Test Uses a Smartphone Camera

In a study published by the journal Cell on December 4, 2020, a team of researchers from Gladstone, UC Berkeley, and UCSF outlined the technology for a CRISPR-based test for COVID-19 that uses a smartphone camera to provide accurate results in under 30-minutes.

These researchers 'combined crRNAs targeting SARS-CoV-2 RNA to improve sensitivity and specificity and directly quantified viral load using enzyme kinetics. Integrated with a reader device based on a mobile phone, this assay has the potential to enable rapid, low-cost, point-of-care screening for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.'

'In the new test, the Cas13 protein is combined with a reporter molecule that becomes fluorescent when cut, and then mixed with a patient sample from a nasal swab. The sample is placed in a device that attaches to a smartphone. If the sample contains RNA from SARS-CoV-2, Cas13 will be activated and will cut the reporter molecule, causing the emission of a fluorescent signal.'

'Then, the smartphone camera, essentially converted into a microscope, can detect the fluorescence and report that a swab tested positive for the virus.'