Bengaluru 19°C

New diagnostic tool to detect co-infections in humans

A groundbreaking diagnostic tool developed by a team from Incheon National University (INU), South Korea, offers a solution to the challenges posed by fast-mutating pathogens and potential co-infections in the future. The TwinDemic Detection (TDD) system, spearheaded by Professor Eunjung Kim, allows for the simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus (IAV) at the point-of-care, offering a rapid, accurate, and cost-effective alternative to traditional diagnostic methods.

The TDD system uses a transparent poly (methyl methacrylate) microfluidic chip embedded with hydrogel-based, enzyme-free gene detection sensors. These sensors amplify fluorescence signals in response to the viral DNA, enabling highly sensitive detection. Notably, the system has a detection limit of 0.46 picomolar for SARS-CoV-2 and 0.39 picomolar for IAV.

In testing, the TDD system demonstrated impressive accuracy, correctly diagnosing COVID-19 with a 93.3% positive prediction rate and 96.7% negative prediction rate. For IAV, it achieved 100% accuracy in positive samples and 96.7% in negative ones.

This system not only addresses the immediate need for co-infection detection but also shows promise for future expansion. Prof. Kim suggests that adding additional channels and highly sensitive amplification systems could allow the TDD to detect a broader range of viruses.

This novel system marks a significant advancement in rapid, on-site diagnostics and could enhance clinical decision-making, especially in resource-constrained environments.

Advancing HIV/AIDS care in India: Progress, challenges, and a way forward

#VirusDetection #PointOfCare #RapidDiagnostics #Twindemic

Follow Us On Whatsapp!
×