ELECTROCHEMICAL CAPILLARY-FLOW DRIVEN IMMUNOASSAY FOR DETECTION OF SARS-COV-2 NUCLEOCAPSID PROTEIN

ABSTRACT

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, there remains a need for fast, accurate and low-cost diagnostic tests to prevent outbreaks. We have developed an electrochemical capillary-flow driven immunoassay (eCaDI) capable of detecting SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein in self-administered nasal samples at the point of care (POC). The low-cost device is made of polyester and adhesive films and provides sequential delivery of sample and reagents to a detection zone integrating a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified with anti-N protein antibodies from a single addition of sample, automating the steps of an ELISA. The modified electrodes are highly sensitive and selective for COVID-19 N protein and were successfully applied to test clinical samples. The novelty of this work resides in the integration of sensitive electrochemical detection with pump-free capillary-flow assay, providing accuracy at the POC. Previously reported systems are slow and/or require multiple user steps reducing the utility for POC applications relative to the system reported here. © 2021 MicroTAS 2021 - 25th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences. All rights reserved.