Droplet-PCR point-of-care device for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 and differentiation from influenza

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The gold standard method for the diagnosis of viral infections is real-time reverse transcription Polymeric Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR). However, almost all rRT-PCR tests need to be done by skilled personnel in the lab setting and with expensive devices, making it far from a point-of-care (PoC) devices to enable remote- and home-based PCR testing. There is a pressing need for the next generation of PCR-based detection assays that not only are able to perform rapid, very accurate, and for PoC and home-based uses for detection of SARS-CoV-2 but also capable of differentiating among different viral and bacterial infections, necessitating the need to better multiplexing and multi-target testing.In the partnership with Accumol in this project, we will use integrated digital droplet microfluidics and microelectronic systems to develop a low-cost, portable, autonomous, and highly accurate droplet PCR (d-PCR) device that can detect SARS-CoV-2 and differentiate it from other viral infections. The deliverable of this project would be to 1) produce functional RNA amplification PoC device-specific to target SARS-CoV-2 RNAs; 2) develop d-PCR protocols useful for selective differentiation of COVID-19 from other viral infections; 3) increase intellectual property in this area and leverage the background patents on distinct categories of IPs, and 4) disseminate technological progress and scientific knowledge through publications in a high-caliber biomedical engineering journal. The d-PCR and detection protocols developed in this project will contribute to implementing new point-of-care testing for rapidly detecting SARS-CoV-2 and differentiate it from other viral infections, addressing the need for Rapid Response to viral infectious disease outbreaks in Canada. One Ph.D. student with a background in biomedical engineering will be trained over the course of the project, directly supported by the requested funding.