Highly performing point-of-care molecular testing for sars-cov-2 with RNA extraction and isothermal amplificaiton

Here we report a portable test in which SARS-CoV-2 RNA is extracted, amplified isothermally by RT-LAMP (Loop-mediated isothermal amplification), and detected using intercalating dyes and highly fluorescent probes (Quasr)[1]. Using pools of naso-pharyngal clinical samples, we estimated a sensitivity comparable to RT-qPCR (up to a Cycle threshold of 39, equivalent to <0.1 TCID50 per mL) and a 100% specificity, for other human coronaviruses and eight respiratory viruses currently circulating in Europe. A low-cost and portable device called “COVIDISC” carring out the test at the point of care has reach the first stage of the industrialisation process. © 2020 CBMS-0001