The Effect of Pooling on the Detection of the Nucleocapsid Protein of SARS-CoV-2 with Rapid Antigen Tests.

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic puts significant stress on the viral testing capabilities of many countries. Rapid point-of-care (PoC) antigen tests are valuable tools but implementing frequent large scale testing is costly. We have developed an inexpensive device for pooling swabs, extracting specimens, and detecting viral antigens with a commercial lateral flow test for the nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2 as antigen. The holder of the device can be produced locally through 3D printing. The extraction and the elution can be performed with the entire set-up encapsulated in a transparent bag, minimizing the risk of infection for the operator. With 0.35 mL extraction buffer and six swabs, including a positive control swab, 43 ± 6% (n = 8) of the signal for an individual extraction of a positive con

SUBMITTER: Berking T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8303537 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature