Fozouni et al. describe a CRISPR–Cas13a-based approach that promises to offer rapid, accurate, portable and low-cost point-of-care detection of SARS-CoV-2 in infected individuals. Unlike other CRISPR diagnostics, the assay is quantitative, directly detecting target RNA without prior amplification of the viral genome. Sensitivity and portability are achieved by the use of a mobile phone camera for signal detection. The test is also fast, accurately identifying SARS-CoV-2-positive clinical samples with a measurement time as low as 5 minutes.
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Fozouni, P. et al. Amplification-free detection of SARS-CoV-2 with CRISPR-Cas13a and mobile phone microscopy. Cell https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2020.12.001 (2020)
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Clyde, D. SARS-CoV-2 detection goes mobile. Nat Rev Genet 22, 69 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41576-020-00321-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41576-020-00321-9
