New rapid at-home test device for infectious diseases

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Researchers at the University of Surrey have developed a new electronic diagnostic kit that could be used at home to test for infectious diseases and viruses including COVID.

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Known as ‘Electro-chemical LAMP’ (eLAMP), the device converts the output of a PCR-like test called LAMP into a simple electric current. According to the Surrey team, the electrochemical test is compact and work is already underway to shrink it to memory-stick size. Paired with a smartphone app, this would enable testing to be performed at home, with results automatically sent to health services to help monitor the spread of infection. The work is published in iScience.   

"A key lesson we took from the COVID-19 pandemic is how crucial rapid, effective and cheap diagnostic tools that can be used at home are to monitoring and containing infectious diseases,” said research lead Johnjoe McFadden, Professor of Molecular Genetics at the University of Surrey.

“Our test meets these criteria and can detect lower amounts of the SARS-CoV-2 virus compared to other home-based tests. We are looking for commercial partners to further develop the test and take it to market."

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University of Surrey