Non-Electrically Controlled Nucleic Acid Analysis Microdevice To Enable Testing For Viral Infections In The Field

In developing countries, the facilities available for testing and treatment are limited. To solve this problem, a point-of-care testing (POCT) device that enables early detection of viral infections is essential. This study developed a microdevice for POCT, which enables early detection of viral infections employing the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method (a type of nucleic acid analysis), without any electrical control. The palm-sized device can detect up to 9 species of viruses with less than 1/50 volume of reagent compared to conventional desktop systems. Furthermore, we successfully developed a dispenser system that can operate sub-microliter scale samples in a simple procedure. The most important feature of this device is that LAMP can be performed only via the addition of water to the device. These features rendered it possible to provide low-cost nucleic acid analysis at various fields, including non-electrified areas. Furthermore, as the reaction was performed in an insulated container, it was independent of the surrounding temperature, thereby facilitating a uniform test. By using the device, we successfully detected two types of virus DNA.