COVID-19 Test Detects Viral DNA in Minutes

A new study published in ACS Nano shows a proof-of-concept study for a potentially more accurate COVID-19 diagnostic based on plasmonic photothermal sensing. Most COVID-19 testing kits rely on the sensitive method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, this method is beginning to shows signs of strain as the virus continues to spread. Jing Wang and her colleagues at MIT wanted to develop a faster, potentially more accurate COVID-19 test that could be a practical alternative to PCR in detecting the virus. The researchers based their test on a technique called localized surface plasmon resonance, which can detect interactions between molecules on the surface of a constructed metallic nanostructure as a local change in...