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Work on rapid COVID-19 test with results in minutes conducted in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH — The same amount of time it takes to make your morning cup of coffee could also be the same amount of time it takes to find out if you’re COVID-19-positive. The work on this new rapid testing is being conducted in Pittsburgh.

A team of UPMC and Pitt researchers, led by Dr. Alexander Star, are working on the project, involving a microchip. The chip is so small, it’s less than half the size of Abe Lincoln’s face on a penny. That chip has highly sensitive fibers in it with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies stitched into them. Someone taking the test would perform a nasal swab, and apply what’s on the swab to the tiny chip.

In less than five minutes, the virus, if it’s present, will interact with the antibodies and give a positive result.

“It’s truly portable, right? So we can envision a handheld electronic unit that somebody then can use at home,” said Dr. Star.

“For any diagnostic to come to market, you have to do full-scale clinical trials. So we’ve done preliminary trials but we need to expand those trials in patients,” said Dr. Sarah Wheeler.

Wheeler is also involved in the project and said so far, sample test results for the test are very promising, but there is still a long way to go before it can be on the market.