A new SARS-CoV-2-specific serology assay, using a rapid gel agglutination assay, has been designed and analysis shows that the tests can provide serological results for SARS-CoV-2 infection within 30 min, using an approach consistent with blood typing assays used routinely in hospital labs around the world. While large-scale efforts are underway to develop vaccines and antiviral therapies, the rapid development and deployment of diagnostic tests is of key importance. As we learn more about the immune response to SARS-CoV-2, recent reports suggest that IgG and IgM antibodies are produced either sequentially or simultaneously, with concentrations reaching a plateau 6 days…
Author: Siobhan Brandman
Transcript of discussion between NIH’s Dr. Bruce Tromberg and Dr. Frances Collins on NIH efforts to develop rapid COVID-19 test using a “RADx” a venture capitalist “shark tank” strategy to discover and fund in bold ideas with hopes of commercial tests on market by September. In the United States, where there are approximately 400,000 to 900,000 novel COVID-19 tests per day, most testing is still being done in laboratories or complex facilities, where it takes a while for those tests to be processed and for people to get results. The National Institute of Health’s Dr. Frances Collins and Dr. Bruce Tromberg come…