Smartphone-Based Point-of- Care Testing

ABSTRACT

The outbreak of the COVID-19 has increased the demand for point-of-care testing ( POCT), and as the most indispensable tools for human beings at present, smartphones have great application potential in POCT. Smartphone-based POCT has the following unique advantages ( 1) easy to operate and without the need for professional training;( 2) shorter wait times and quicker test results;( 3) low fabrication cost and convenient to use in limited-resource areas. Therefore, smartphone-based POCT is rapidly emerging as a potential alternative to traditional laboratory testing. Herein, we perform a comprehensive review of recent progress and applications of smartphone-based sensors in POCT for the past three years, which uses the tested objects ( body fluids, volatile organic compounds, vital signs) by POCT as the basis for classification, and combines with the current mainstream sensing strategies, including colorimetric, fluorescent, electrochemical technology, piezoelectric, pyroelectric, ultrasonic and photoelectric sensor, etc. We evaluate the performance and development potential of these sensors, in addition, the emerging technologies used in POCT are introduced, such as nanotechnology, flexible electronic devices, microfluidic technology, biodegradable technology, self- powered technology, multichannel detection and so on. Finally, current problems are summarized and the future development of the smartphone-based POCT is discussed.