Low-Cost, Open-Source Device for High-Performance Fluorescence Detection of Isothermal Nucleic Acid Amplification Reactions
Andrew H. Buultjens, Koen Vandelannoote, Liam K. R. Sharkey, Benjamin P. Howden, Ian R. Monk, Jean Lee, Timothy P. Stinear
Abstract
has a similar performance to a high-end commercial instrument for detecting fluorescence-based LAMP reactions. Performance testing of the instrument with RNA extracted from a SARS-CoV-2 virus dilution series revealed an analytical detection sensitivity of 50 virus copies per microliter-a detection threshold suitable to detect patient viral load in the first few days following symptom onset. In addition to the detection of SARS-CoV-2, we show that the system can be used to detect the presence of two bacterial pathogens, demonstrating the versatility of the platform for the detection of other pathogens. This cost-effective and scalable hardware alternative allows democratization of the instrumentation required for high-performance molecular diagnostics, such that it could be available to laboratories anywhere-supporting infectious diseases surveillance and research activities in resource-limited settings.