Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays are a robust and rapid diagnostic method for detecting viral RNA. The LAMP method allows nucleic acid to be amplified without using thermal cycles. The diagnostic test ensures rapid replication of the targeted DNA regions with high specificity and efficiency. With its straightforward operation, the technology is easy to use, low-cost, and doesn’t require complex equipment, so it can be used anywhere in the world.
Many LAMP diagnostic platforms have been developed for bacteria, viruses and parasite detection applications. Point-of-care (PoC) LAMP platforms have been designed with principles of microfluidic chip technology, including LAMP-on-a-chip, paper-based LAMP; and smartphone-based LAMP applications have been created. LAMP technology is a fast, robust and reliable diagnostic platform for PoC testing.
An Imperial-made example of this technology is Lacewing, developed by a team of researchers led by Professor Pantelis Georgiou, including Dr Jesus Rodriquez Manzano , Professor Jethro Herberg and Dr Frances Davies. The PoC device allows the detection of parasite DNA from a few microlitres of blood taken by finger-prick , with a detection time of 15-30 minutes. Lacewing is coupled by Bluetooth to a smartphone app interface, which provides data analysis, decision support, time and location stamping and upload to a secure, cloud-based surveillance platform.
Digital Diagnostics for Africa: https://www.digitaldiagnostics4africa.org/how-it-works
A Handheld Molecular Test for COVID-19
This video describes the operation of a test for COVID-19 diagnosis. The test detects the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in an extracted sample from a nasal or throat swab. The detection relies on microchip technology, similar to the one used for computers and smartphones. The platform communicated to a smartphone app, synchronises the results on a secure cloud server and geo-tags the location on a map for pandemic surveillance.
