A novel automated optical device that rapidly screens large numbers of patient samples for past and present COVID-19 infection

具有空前分辨率的光学设备开发公司SMi Drug Discovery设计了一种自动诊断设备，可以检测过去和现在的COVID-19感染。与其他测试不同，SMi的技术直接观察单个分子，为它们的存在提供无可辩驳的证据。该设备以前所未有的速度产生高度精确的结果，并且具有高度可扩展性。它能够在不到2分钟的时间内筛选少量样本，并在不到20分钟的时间内筛选多达1,000个样本-每台机器每天最多可筛选72,000个样本。SMi的技术还可以同时筛查多种疾病类型，从而将COVID-19与具有类似症状的疾病（如其他冠状病毒或流感）区分开来，这在冬季流感季节尤其有益。该设备结构紧凑，便携，可以由非专业人员操作，不需要专门的实验室条件。这里有两个例子可以说明它如何用于COVID-19:*工作场所：该设备的速度意味着员工可以在到达工作地点时进行测试，并在几分钟内收到结果。因此，可以非常迅速地确定受感染者，从而大大降低传播风险。这种功能在医院和护理院等医疗保健环境中尤其重要。*人群：该设备的便携性和非专业人员的易用性意味着可以在检测中心和人群聚集点进行常规的大规模检测；例如，在机场等公共交通终点站、超市或通过移动测试车进行检测。提供近乎即时的结果，并且能够在临床环境之外进行测试，这是该技术与其他技术的根本区别。由于SMi设备能够分析单分子，因此它只需要少量的试剂（大大低于目前单个COVID-19诊断检测试剂盒的用量）和少量的患者样本。这降低了试剂短缺的风险，并大大降低了操作成本。便携性，它在专业实验室之外工作的能力和减少材料浪费提供了额外的环境效益。再加上其高通量，这些特点将有助于对整个人口进行监测——这是管理全球大流行病的一个转型飞跃。SMi的技术提供了必要的诊断能力，使人们重返工作岗位，经济以安全和可控的方式再次发展。

SMi Drug Discovery, a developer of optical devices capable of unprecedented levels of resolution, has designed an automated diagnostic device that will enable the detection of both past and present COVID-19 infections. Unlike other tests, SMi's technology directly observes single molecules to provide irrefutable evidence of their existence.The device produces highly accurate results at unprecedented speed, and is highly scalable. It is capable of screening a handful of samples in less than 2 minutes, and up to 1,000 samples in less than 20 minutes - a theoretical capacity of up to 72,000 samples per day, per machine. SMi's technology also allows the simultaneous screening of multiple disease types, allowing COVID-19 to be distinguished from diseases with similar symptoms such as other coronaviruses or influenza - especially beneficial during winter flu seasons.The device is compact, portable, can be operated by non-specialists and does not require specialised laboratory conditions. Here are two examples of how it might be used for COVID-19:* Workplace: The device's speed means that employees can be tested as they arrive at work, and receive results within minutes. Infected persons can therefore be identified very quickly, significantly reducing the risk of transmission. This capability could be especially critical in healthcare settings such as hospitals and care homes.* Population: The device's portability and ease of use by non-specialists means that routine mass testing can be undertaken at testing centres and population pinch-points; for example, at public transport terminals such as airports, at supermarkets or via mobile testing vans.Providing near-instant results and the ability to conduct testing outside of a clinical environment fundamentally distinguishes this technology from others.Because the SMi device is able to analyse single molecules, it requires only tiny quantities of reagents (dramatically lower than the amounts currently used in a single COVID-19 diagnostic testing kit) and small patient samples. This mitigates the risk of reagent shortages, and dramatically reduces operational costs. Portability, its ability to work outside of specialist laboratories and reduced material waste provide additional environmental benefits.Together with its high throughput, these features would facilitate the monitoring of entire populations - a transformational leap for the management of the global pandemic. SMi's technology provides the diagnostic capabilities necessary to get people back to work and economies moving again in a safe and controlled manner.