COVID-19 test gives results within minutes

The method is published on MedRxiv, where the researchers headed by Professor Tim Dafforn from the University of Birmingham also demonstrate the rapidity and sensitivity of their method. 

“We have designed a new method for testing that combines the ease of use and speed of lateral flow testing with the inherent sensitivity of an RNA test", explained Dafforn.  "It features reagents that can be used in existing point of care devices and meets the need for testing in high throughput, near-patient, settings where people may be waiting in line for their results.”

Standard RT-PCR assays take more than an hour per sample, and firstly use a reverse transcriptase enzyme to convert RNA to DNA.  Afterwards a DNA polymerase enzyme copies and amplified the DNA to detectable levels, which requires time-consuming cycles of heating and cooling.  Although isthermic processes have been developed, reducing this step below 20 minutes has proved challenging.  Lateral flow tests, which measure the presence of antibodies, can take up to 30 minutes.

The researchers created a novel single-step approach for converting viral RNA into DNA, and combined it with a known technique called Exponential Amplification Reaction (EXPAR), which increases DNA concentration to detectable levels at a constant temperature.   They are calling the new method Reverse Transcriptase Free EXPAR (RTF-EXPAR) testing.  

University of Birmingham Enterprise has filed a patent application covering the method and its use in diagnostic equipment, and is now seeking to license the patent for rapid product development. 

The method uses a DNA sequence (called Binder DNA) that recognises and binds to SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA and an enzyme (BstNI) that recognises the Binder DNA, and cuts a short section from it when viral RNA is present.  Once this cleavage has occurred, the viral RNA is free to bind to more Binder DNA and the cycle is repeated.  The test detects the output of this cycle. 

The researchers tested the method by introducing BstNI, Binder DNA, and SARS-CoV-2 samples to EXPAR reagents and incubating at a constant temperature of 50^oC.  These conditions yielded test results in 4.00 ± 0.72 minutes for the positive sample.  No signal was observed for the negative (control) sample after 10 minutes of incubation.  The concentration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the positive sample was 72.7 copies/µL, a value up to ten times lower than the average viral load found in COVID-19 patient samples.

The method could be applied to any RNA-based infectious agent or disease biomarker (including cancer), so in the long-term, the use of RTF-EXPAR is expected to extend beyond SARS-CoV-2.