Australian researchers invent 20-minute coronavirus blood test

[Nevilledog]

https://news.yahoo.com/australian-researchers-invent-20-minute-064725254.html

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Researchers in Australia have devised a test that can determine novel coronavirus infection in about 20 minutes using blood samples in what they say is a world-first breakthrough.

The researchers at Monash University said their test can determine if someone is currently infected and if they have been infected in the past.

"Short-term applications include rapid case identification and contact tracing to limit viral spread, while population screening to determine the extent of viral infection across communities is a longer-term need," the researchers said in a paper published in the journal ACS Sensors on Friday.

The research team was led by BioPRIA and Monash University’s Chemical Engineering Department, including researchers from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent BioNano Science and Technology (CBNS).

*snip*

[Maru Kitteh]

1. That's about 5 teaspoons of blood.

Last edited Fri Jul 17, 2020, 01:26 PM - Edit history (1)

Hopefully they get the size of the blood sample down.


ON EDIT: DERP


Sometimes I need to slow it down when reading on small screens. Or just in general.

[likesmountains 52]

2. No, it's a tiny amount I believe.

https://www.bettymills.com/microtainer-capillary-blood-collection-tube-50-ea-bx-4bx-cs-365965?utm_source=cpc-strat&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=parts&utm_keyword=MON36592800&utm_content=Medical&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkqra9OPU6gIVchatBh3XtA1WEAQYBiABEgKsSPD_BwE

I know because I draw blood on babies.

[lagomorph777]

3. No, that's a droplet. You might be confusing micro- and milli- liters.

Factor of 1,000 difference.

[Maru Kitteh]

5. Oh jeez, you're right. I read it too quickly.

[highplainsdem]

6. 25 microliters is .005 teaspoons - 1/200th of a teaspoon

[Maru Kitteh]

10. Yep. Saw my mistake. My brain breezed right on by

And went to milliliters for some reason.

[highplainsdem]

13. Very easy mistake to make. You almost never see references to microliters as opposed to milliliters.

[Maru Kitteh]

15. Yeah, but I do. Every day. Not much of an excuse for me.

[ornotna]

8. that's equal to .000845350563972975 liquid oz

pretty small.

[Maru Kitteh]

12. YES. As I said a few times already. I got it.

[ornotna]

14. Excellent!

My job is done here.

[SWBTATTReg]

4. A little bit of good news, definitely!

[Aristus]

7. Speed isn't the issue.

We're using in clinic right now a 20-minute test with a nasopharyngeal swab.

What we need is increased sensitivity and specificity.

Fewer false negative and false positives.

[lagomorph777]

9. Because the test can see past infections, I'm guessing it's antibody-based.

And therefore very inaccurate, like all antibody tests I've ever seen.

On careful reading, it's looking for agglutination (clumping) of blood cells. I am aware of other factors that commonly cause agglutination: dehydration, high blood sugar being extremely common ones.

[Nevilledog]

11. Took thirteen days to get my results. Not everyone has access to the rapid tests.