Mainz, Germany, Apr 8, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - A new type of sensor device from the German health technology company
Digital Diagnostics AG can be used for immediate tests for the new SARS coronavirus. The SARS-CoV-2 MEMS 5 Minute
Test(TM) is created as a pocket-size lab and can be used in four steps anywhere on-site by general practitioners,
paramedics and nursing staff without any training. The first prototypes of the biosensor will be available by end of
April with first production devices by mid-May.
Compared to previously known rapid tests looking for the presence of antibodies in the test-liquid, the SARS-CoV-2 MEMS
5 Minute Test(TM) leads to a clear "YES" or "NO" result regarding the presence of the actual virus in the test fluid and
eliminates the time and cost consuming transport of samples to a laboratory. The great advantage of this method is that
the virus can be detected directly with a very high accuracy. In contrast, all other rapid tests known to date are based
on the detection of antibodies. But antibodies are not detectable in plasma until 7 to 10 days after infection.
With the 5 Minute Test developed by digid, the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be measured using micro-electro-mechanical systems
(MEMS) without the need for time-consuming sample preparation. The SARS-CoV-2 MEMS 5 Minute Test(TM) is based on
cantilevers, which are integrated onto a microchip with the size of a fingernail. These nanomechanical spring bars made
of silicon are extremely thin and can be bent by the application of even a tiny force. This makes them highly sensitive
biochemical sensors. The cantilevers are coated with a capture layer of antibodies. When applied to the chip, these
antibodies bind any viruses contained in the test fluid. When the SARS-CoV-2 virus binds to the capture layer, changes
in surface tension cause a mechanical bending of the cantilevers, which generates an electrical signal on the chip.
By connecting the digital sensor to a secure analytics platform, the numerous sensor data can be linked with geodata and
processed anonymously for big-data applications. This would enable the creation of truly accurate tools to detect
emerging regional hotspots of virus spread in near-real-time. Newly emerging chains of infection can then be effectively
contained. Restrictions on freedom of movement could also be much more flexible and regionally limited, and the scarce
resources of health administrations and hospitals could be used much more purposefully and efficiently.