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A simple and fast spectroscopy-based technique for Covid-19 diagnosis
Driss Lahlou Kitane1, Salma Loukman2, Nabila Marchoudi2
1Operations Research Center, MIT, Muckley Bldg, 1 Amherst St, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
Scientific Reports
|August 19, 2021
Summary
A new spectroscopic method offers rapid, reagent-free detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. This technique achieves high accuracy, making it ideal for resource-limited settings during the coronavirus pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Spectroscopy
- Infectious Disease Diagnostics
Background:
- The global spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) necessitates rapid and accessible diagnostic tools.
- Limited resources in many regions, particularly Africa, hinder widespread SARS-CoV-2 testing.
- Existing methods like RT-PCR can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel, rapid, and reagent-free spectroscopic method for detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
- To assess the feasibility of this technique for resource-limited laboratories.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy on RNA extracts from 280 patient samples.
- Applied multivariate analysis to FTIR spectra for distinguishing between positive and negative samples.
- Validated results against RT-PCR, the current gold standard.
Main Results:
- The spectroscopic method demonstrated high accuracy (97.8%), sensitivity (97%), and specificity (98.3%).
- Testing time post-RNA extraction was reduced from hours to minutes.
- The technique proved effective on clinical samples, providing quantitative predictive scores.
Conclusions:
- This reagent-free FTIR spectroscopic method offers a rapid, accurate, and cost-effective approach for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection.
- The technique's ease of use and minimal resource requirements make it suitable for deployment in laboratories with limited capabilities, aiding pandemic management globally.
