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

SMi Drug Discovery是一家能够达到前所未有的分辨率水平的光学设备开发商，它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，以提供其存在的无可辩驳的证据。该设备以前所未有的速度产生高度准确的结果，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品，在不到20分钟的时间内筛选多达1，000个样品-理论上每台机器每天可筛选多达72，000个样品。SMi的技术还可以同时筛查多种疾病类型，从而将COVID-19与其他冠状病毒或流感等症状相似的疾病区分开来，这在冬季流感季节尤其有益。该设备结构紧凑，便携，可由非专业人员操作，不需要专门的实验室条件。以下是它如何用于COVID-19的两个例子：* 工作场所：该设备的速度意味着员工可以在上班时进行测试，并在几分钟内收到结果。因此，可以非常迅速地查明受感染者，大大降低传播风险。这种能力在医院和护理院等医疗环境中尤其重要。*人口：该设备携带方便，非专业人员易于使用，这意味着可以在检测中心和人口关键点进行常规的大规模检测;例如在公共交通终点站，如机场，在超市或通过移动的测试车。提供近-即时的结果和在临床环境之外进行测试的能力从根本上将这项技术与其他技术区分开来。由于它是单分子的，因此只需要少量的试剂（大大低于目前单个COVID-19诊断检测试剂盒中使用的量）和少量的患者样本。这减轻了试剂短缺的风险，并大大降低了运营成本。便携性、在专业实验室之外工作的能力以及减少材料浪费提供了额外的环境效益，加上其高通量，这些特征将有助于监测整个人群-这是全球大流行病管理的一个转型性飞跃。SMi的技术提供了必要的诊断能力，使人们重新回到工作岗位，经济以安全和可控的方式再次运行。

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.