Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App





Novel Device Detects COVID-19 Antibodies in Five Minutes

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 30 Nov 2022

Rapid, cheap and accurate tests continue to be essential for epidemiological surveillance and for health services to monitor and contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2. More...

A team of scientists has now developed an electrochemical immunosensor that detects antibodies against the virus.

In search of a novel diagnostic method, a group of scientists at the Federal University of the ABC (UFABC, São Paulo, Brazil) opted for a material frequently used in metallurgy – zinc oxide – and combined it for the first time with fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass, a conductive material used in electrodes for photovoltaics and other advanced applications. The electrode fabricated by the researchers detected COVID-19 antibodies in serum in about five minutes with 88.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity, outperforming even the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test, the current gold-standard clinical diagnostic tool. One of the advantages of the electrode they developed is its flexible architecture, which means that it can easily be customized for other diagnostic and biomedical applications using different biomolecules on the zinc oxide nanorods and other target analytes.

Prior knowledge of chemical properties such as the isoelectric point of the virus’s spike protein (S), enabled the group to develop a platform for S to bind electrostatically to zinc oxide nanorods. Zinc oxide is increasingly used to fabricate biosensors because of its versatility and unique chemical, optical and electrical properties. The immunosensor is easy to make and use, and its production cost is relatively low. The nanorods form a film on the FTO’s conductive surface, creating a favorable molecular microenvironment for immobilization of the S protein and making the construct a simple way to detect these antibodies. The researchers will now adapt the platform to make it portable and connectable to mobile devices for use in diagnosing COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

“The technology is a versatile biosensing platform. As developed by us, it can be modified and customized for serological detection of other diseases of public health interest," said chemist Wendel Alves, lead author and a professor at the Center for Natural and Human Sciences, UFABC.

Related Links:
UFABC


Gold Member
Universal Transport Solution
Puritan®UniTranz-RT
POC Helicobacter Pylori Test Kit
Hepy Urease Test
New
Gold Member
Cardiovascular Risk Test
Metabolic Syndrome Array I & II
New
Autoimmune Liver Diseases Assay
Microblot-Array Liver Profile Kit
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: A simple blood sample that allows DNA methylation could identify epigenetic biomarkers (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Simple Blood Sample Could Identify Epigenetic Biomarkers to Predict CVD Risk in Type 2 Diabetes

People with type 2 diabetes face up to four times higher risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, strokes, and angina compared to individuals without the condition. Yet, current tools used... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The microfluidic device for passive separation of platelet-rich plasma from whole blood (Photo courtesy of University of the Basque Country)

Portable and Disposable Device Obtains Platelet-Rich Plasma Without Complex Equipment

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) plays a crucial role in regenerative medicine due to its ability to accelerate healing and repair tissue. However, obtaining PRP traditionally requires expensive centrifugation... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The new technology could predict who will benefit from immunotherapy (Photo courtesy of Max Delbrück Center)

New Technology Deciphers Immune Cell Communication to Predict Immunotherapy Response

A healthy immune system depends on complex communication between specialized cell types that detect, alert, and eliminate harmful threats. When these immune signaling pathways break down, the result can... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: MycoMEIA Aspergillus Assay is the first FDA-cleared urine-based test for invasive aspergillosis (Photo courtesy of Pearl Diagnostics)

Urine-Based Assay Diagnoses Common Lung Infection in Immunocompromised People

Invasive Aspergillosis (IA), a life-threatening fungal infection, poses a serious threat to immunocompromised individuals, especially those with hematologic malignancies, transplants, or severe lung diseases.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.