A team including Beckman researcher Brian Cunningham and Nantao Li, a grad student in electrical and computer engineering have developed a new method for detecting SARS-CoV-2 viral load using saliva or exhaled breath.
The method streamlines the process by using label-free detection, “an approach that utilizes a biosensor and detection instrument for viral load monitoring, is a solution that can capture and digitally count intact virus particles in saliva or exhaled breath to provide lower cost and reduced time to diagnose an infection.”
This eliminates the need for using a reagent, and will hopefully reduce the time and cost of processing test samples.
You can read more about the new technology here.
Top image from Beckman Institute Facebook page.