NEW YORK – A team at the University of Birmingham in the UK has paired a rarely used isothermal technology with a rapid upfront step that obviates the need for reverse transcription, creating a five-minute SARS-CoV-2 molecular diagnostic test.
Led by Timothy Dafforn, a professor of biotechnology at Birmingham, the team is currently working to adapt the test to a lateral flow system, suss out whether it can be used directly from samples, and ultimately license the patented technology.