ABSTRACT
This chapter reports a non-invasive, rapid, low-cost system for COVID-19 testing to replace or complement PCR tests. It consists of a lab-in-a-backpack system, and an RT-LAMP protocol from Harvard Medical School integrated into a single test kit that can be used reliably and reproducibly at home or in remote field conditions. In addition to the marginal cost per sample, for many lower-volume sites, one has to also consider the additional cost of infrastructure and staff training. Low-cost approaches have been advocated for both RT-LAMP and RT-qPCR tests. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was mixed with saliva at varying concentrations and tested with the CentriDrive system to determine the sensitivity of virus detection. The DNA synthesis process is the formation of a phosphodiester bond between the incoming deoxynucleoside triphosphate and the terminal primer nucleotide catalyzed by DNA polymerases. Hydrolysis of pyrophosphate will generate two hydrogen protons which lower the solution pH and is detected by color change in the pH color indicator.
