Only 3,500 Won... Spit Test Reveals Which COVID-19 Variant You Have Within an Hour

Published 09 Aug.2021 07:49(KST)

Updated 10 Aug.2021 10:36(KST)

Testing cost only 3,500 won... Identifies which species is infected within an hour

(Photo by Wise Bio-Environmental Engineering Research Institute)

[Asia Economy Senior Reporter Jinsoo Lee] A method to test for COVID-19 infection using saliva is currently being developed. Test results can be obtained within an hour. If infected, it can also identify which variant caused the infection.

The development of this testing method by researchers from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, along with experts from local hospitals, was published in the online edition of the world-renowned scientific journal Science Advances on August 6 (local time).

According to the report, the cost per test is only $3 (about 3,500 KRW), which is much cheaper than currently available COVID-19 self-test kits. It can also be 3D printed, and once development is complete, it is expected to revolutionize COVID-19 treatment and monitoring.

Dr. Xiao Tan of the Wyss Institute, who led the development of this testing method, said, "The goal was to develop a simple method that can be done alone at home without any other equipment," and introduced, "You just spit saliva into a container and insert it, and you can know the result within an hour."

Professor James Collins of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who participated in the development, stated, "When new variants emerge, the testing device program can be reconfigured accordingly." This technology is faster and painless compared to the existing PCR test method, which requires swabbing inside the nasal cavity.

The testing device, which applies a gene-editing tool called 'Sherlock,' indicates test results through fluorescent signals. The portable testing device named 'miSherlock' allows simple testing at home. Results can be checked within 60 minutes via a related smartphone app.

Testing saliva samples from 27 COVID-19 positive patients and 21 healthy volunteers showed that miSherlock achieved accuracy rates of 96% and 95%, respectively.