As reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Illinois team used a simpler process to analyze the viral transport media, called LAMP, which bypasses the RNA extraction and purification steps.
"LAMP only needs one temperature—65 C—so it is much easier to control," said graduate student Anurup Ganguli, the first author of the study. "Also, LAMP works more robustly than PCR, especially when there are contaminants in the test sample. We can just briefly heat the sample, break open the virus and detect the genetic sequence that specifically identifies SARS-CoV-2."
Then, the researchers incorporated the LAMP assay onto a small 3-D-printed microfluidic cartridge that has two input slots for syringes: one for the sample-containing viral transport media, one for the LAMP chemicals. Once the two are injected, they react within the cartridge.
The researchers are exploring whether the assay would work with saliva samples to eliminate the need for nasopharyngeal swabs, and collecting more patient data as they consider next steps for regulatory approvals, Bashir said
COVID 19의 rapid diagnostic method로 자주 나오는게 LAMP 방식인듯하다.
reference
Anurup Ganguli et al, Rapid isothermal amplification and portable detection system for SARS-CoV-2, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2020). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2014739117