Researchers at the Univ. of California, Irvine (UCI) have developed a very sensitive and specific test to detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. The test uses a coronavirus antigen microarray (CoVAM) that is highly specific and inexpensive to implement.
A DNA microarray, more commonly known as a DNA chip, holds specific viral DNA that binds to viral DNA present in a sample from an infected patient, such as a blood sample.
These bound DNA components are then labeled fluorescently and read with fluorescence imaging. However, most imaging machines can cost up to $100,000; thus, many clinical laboratories must send their arrays to imaging centers, which slows down the testing process. In addition, microarrays can be inaccurate.
The UCI test combines a CoVAM with an inexpensive imaging system. The CoVAM includes 67 antigens from 23 strains of 10 viruses known to cause respiratory tract infections, including SARS-CoV-2. If viral SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are present in the blood, they will bind to the corresponding COVID-19 antigens on the chip, indicating that the patient is infected with SARS-CoV-2...
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