Currently, rapid antigen tests aren’t very sensitive as they can fail to detect early infections with low viral loads.
The new test developed by Newcastle University researchers is more sensitive and works under more extreme conditions than antibody-based tests.
The PCR test remains the “gold standard” for Covid-19 diagnosis but it generally takes 1-2 days to get a result, is expensive and requires special lab equipment and trained personnel.
In contrast, rapid antigen tests are fast (15-30 minutes), and people can take them at home with no training. However, they lack sensitivity, which sometimes results in false negatives.
The tests typically use antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 for detection, which can’t withstand wide ranges of temperature and pH.
The researchers produced nanoMIPs against a small fragment, or peptide, of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein by creating molecular imprints, or moulds, in the nanoparticles.
These nanoscale binding cavities had...