Recent advances and clinical application in point-of-care testing of SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

The novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 spread rapidly worldwide, posing a severe threat to public life and health. It is significant to realize rapid testing and timely control of epidemic situations under the condition of limited resources. However, laboratory-based standardized nucleic acid detection methods have a long turnaround time and high cost, so it is urgent to develop convenient methods for detecting COVID-19. This paper summarizes the point-of-care testing (POCT) developed for novel coronavirus from three aspects: nucleic acid extraction, nucleic acid amplification, and detection methods. This paper introduces a commercial real-time detection system that integrates the abovementioned three steps and the matters needing attention in use. The primary purpose of this review is to provide a reference for emergency response and rapid deployment of COVID-19 and some other emerging infectious diseases.

Keywords: COVID-19; instant detection; novel coronavirus; nucleic acid detection.

Figure 1

Principle of nucleic acid extraction in point‐of‐care testing of SARS‐CoV‐2. Schematic diagram of high temperature lysis (A), solution lysis (B), solution lysis combined with high temperature (C), magnetic bead extraction method (D), and spin‐column‐based method (E)

Figure 2

Principle of nucleic acid amplification in point‐of‐care testing of SARS‐CoV‐2. Schematic diagram of RT‐PCR (A), LAMP‐PCR (B), RPA‐PCR (C), and NEAR‐PCR (D)

Figure 3

Detection method in point‐of‐care testing of SARS‐CoV‐2. Schematic diagram of Real‐time fluorescence detection (A), Lateral flow detection (B), Visual inspection (C), and CRISPR/Cas detection (D)