Lab-on-smartphone with optical interface for rapid multiplex in-field testing of COVID-19

自新冠肺炎大流行开始以来，已确认超过580万例确诊病例和360,000例死亡。医院特别是农村地区的医院缺乏经批准的诊断测试，限制了个人获得诊断测试的机会。我们聚集了麦吉尔大学和尼康加拿大公司的专家团队，开发了一个便携式且经济高效的诊断平台，用于检测SARS-CoV-2(导致新冠肺炎的病毒)，并能够在偏远地区和农村地区快速实施。我们的团队已经开始开发用于检测SARS-CoV-2RNA的原型，通过一种可量化的多重方式的新比色分析。在这里，我们实现了我们的新型比色流控设备，用于在几分钟内对SARS-CoV-2进行便携式多路检测，并在智能手机(数据采集系统)的帮助下解释检测结果。我们的目标是在偏远地区方便地获取诊断结果，并避免医院和实验室设施超负荷。在尼康(实物捐助)的支持下，我们将开发一种便携式和微型化的成像盒，由我们新型的比色流体器件和能够握在智能手机上的光学元件组成，独立于它们的型号(Aim1)。然后，我们将在非临床模拟环境(AIM2)中实施这种便携式和多路复用方法，用于从拭子样本中检测SARS-CoV-2。生物工程部的Mahshid实验室已经获得了所有必要的方案和McGill EHS批准的“使用生物危险材料”来处理SARS-CoV-2。最后，我们将开发一个智能手机应用程序(Android Studio)，用于简化数据解释并将色度数据(彩色图像)分析为读取信号(Aim3)。基于智能手机的可用性，能够使用这些智能设备将减轻医疗系统的压力，并减少对笨重计算机的需求，特别是在现场测试或农村地区。以低成本提高新冠肺炎检测率的潜力将使加拿大卫生系统在当前的大流行期间受益，并有助于防止未来发生类似的大流行。

Since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, over 5,800,000 confirmed cases and 360,000 deaths have been identified. The shortage of approved diagnostics tests in hospitals particularly in rural areas, have limited the access of individuals to diagnostic tests. We gather a team of experts at McGill University and Nikon Canada Inc. to develop a portable and cost-effective diagnostics platform for detection of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19) with capability of rapid implementation in remote-locations and rural areas. Our team has already begun development of a prototype for testing of SARS-CoV-2 RNA via a novel colorimetric assay in a quantifiable multiplex fashion. Here, we implement our novel colorimetric fluidic device for portable multiplex testing of SARS-CoV-2 in minutes and interpretation of the test results with the help of a smartphone (data acquisition system). Our aim is to provide easy access to the results of diagnostics in remote locations and avoid overloading hospitals and lab facilities. With the support from Nikon (in-kind contribution), we will develop a portable and miniaturized imaging box composed of our novel colorimetric fluidic device and optical components capable of holding to smartphones, independent from their model (Aim1). We will then implement this portable and multiplex approach for testing SARS-CoV-2 from swab samples in a non-clinical simulated environment (Aim2). Mahshid Lab in the Department of Bioengineering, has already received all necessary protocols and McGill EHS approval "Use Biohazardous Materials" to work with SARS-CoV-2. Finally, we will develop a smartphone application (Android studio) for easing data interpretation and analysing the colorimetric data (color images) into reading signals (Aim3). Based on the availability of smartphones, being able to use these smart devices will put less pressure on the healthcare system and reduce the need for bulky computers especially for in-field testing or in rural areas. The potential to increase COVID-19 testing rate at a low cost will benefit the Canadian health system during the current pandemic and help prevent similar pandemics in the future.