A sample optical detection platform for rapid COVID-19 diagnosis. Credit: American Institute of Physics
The pandemic cannot be stopped if there is no prospect of herd immunity. It is imperative that COVID-19 be detected quickly. It is urgent that point-of-care testing can give immediate results.
Researchers from Omega Optics Inc. and the University of Texas at Austin have explored the challenges and opportunities in developing COVID-19-sensing technologies. In the journal Applied Physics Reviews, they discuss the potential of optical biosensors to point-of-care COVID-19 test.
Aref Asghari, one the authors, stated that there are growing cases of transmissible variants and the need for prevention and control.
The use of optical biosensors is one of the best options for rapid and accurate testing. An optical biosensor detects a virion on its surface. This interaction causes a shift in the light signal. Even with a small amount of virus, the system is able to detect coronavirus in real-time.
Asghari stated that COVID-19 can have a viral load low enough to be missed by commercially available techniques. It can be difficult to detect viral infections, particularly at an earlier stage of infection.
This interaction can be used in a variety of ways. One example is integrating it with plasma oscillation measurements or incorporating graphene in its fabrication process.
Each possible configuration uses a different method to detect the virus. While each has its advantages and disadvantages, the main takeaway is the same. Despite the availability of vaccines, it is impossible to end the pandemic without finding faster ways to detect infection. This is especially true as new mutations and variants of the virus keep appearing.
Asghari stated, "The combination vaccines and rapid testing will drive down community transmission until we can effectively eradicate the virus."
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More information: Aref Agari et al. Fast, accurate and point-of-care COVID-19 diagnosis made possible by advanced lab-on chip optical biosensors. Opportunities and challenges, Applied Physics Reviews (2021). Information from Applied Physics Reviews Aref Aghari et. al. Fast, accurate, point of-care COVID-19 diagnosis enabled by advanced lab-on chip optical biosensors. Opportunities and challenges. (2021). DOI: 10.1063/5.0022211
