Recent trends in analytical and digital techniques for the detection of the SARS-Cov-2

Abstract

The current global outbreak of COVID-19 due to SARS-CoV-2 is an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Considering the gravity of its impact there is an immediate need to develop a detection technique that is sensitive, specific, fast, and affordable for the clinical diagnosis of the disease. Real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)-based detection platforms are contemplated to be the gold standard to detect viral RNA. However, that may be susceptible to errors, and there is a risk of obtaining false results, which ultimately compromises the strategy of efficient disease management. Several modern techniques exhibiting assured results with enhanced sensitivity and specificity against the SARS-CoV-2 associated viral components or immune response against it have been developed and may be implemented. The review deals with the conventional RT-PCR detection techniques and compares them to other detection platforms viz., biosensor based detection of antigens, fluorescent or colorimetric detection systems including CRISPR-Cas 13 based SHERLOCK kit, CRISPR Cas-9 based FELUDA test kit, CRISPR DETECTR kit, Next Generation Sequencing or microarray-based kits. These modern techniques are great as a point of care detection methods but should be followed by RT PCR based detection for the confirmation of COVID-19 status.

Keywords: Biosensors; CRISPR-Cas; Immunosensor; Microarray; Next-generation sequencing; Nucleic-acid amplification; RT-PCR; SARS-CoV-2; Serological test.

Graphical abstract

Fig. 1

Approximate Timeline for Detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR.

Fig. 2

Collection of sample and various detection techniques of SARS-CoV-2