A smartphone-based diagnostic platform for rapid detection of Zika, chikungunya, and dengue viruses.
Current multiplexed diagnostics for Zika, dengue, and chikungunya viruses are situated outside the intersection of affordability, high performance, and suitability for use at the point-of-care in resource-limited settings. Consequently, insufficient diagnostic capabilities are a key limitation facing current Zika outbreak management strategies. Here we demonstrate highly sensitive and specific detection of Zika, chikungunya, and dengue viruses by coupling reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) with our recently developed quenching of unincorporated amplification signal reporters (QUASR) technique. We conduct reactions in a simple, inexpensive and portable "LAMP box" supplemented with a consumer class smartphone. The entire assembly can be powered by a 5 V USB source such as a USB power bank or solar panel. Our smartphone employs a novel algorithm utilizing chromaticity to analyze fluorescence signals, which improves the discrimination of positive/negative signals by 5-fold when compared to detection with traditional RGB intensity sensors or the naked eye. The ability to detect ZIKV directly from crude human sample matrices (blood, urine, and saliva) demonstrates our device's utility for widespread clinical deployment. Together, these advances enable our system to host the key components necessary to expand the use of nucleic acid amplification-based detection assays towards point-of-care settings where they are needed most.
Department of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA.
Aashish
A
Priye
Department of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA.
Sara W
SW
Bird
Department of Systems Biology, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA.
Yooli K
YK
Light
Department of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA.
Cameron S
CS
Ball
Department of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA.
Oscar A
OA
Negrete
Department of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA.
Robert J
RJ
Meagher
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D002646:Chikungunya virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000378:metabolism; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000068997:Smartphone; D014709:Vero Cells; D000071244:Zika Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D017931:DNA Primers; D012367:RNA, Viral