Scientists invent device that detects COVID-19 variants in your spit
- Last updated: August 8, 2021 | 11:57
Mostafa Al Zoubi, Gulf Today
Scientists at Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology and many hospitals in Boston invented a device which detects Coronavirus and identify the breed within an hour, by placing a person’s saliva in the device and pressing the sample in a piston down to get the result.
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Scientists stressed that the new device named Minimally Instrumented Sherlock (Misherlock) is equivalent to PCR tests but gives a much accurate and faster result, where the person does not have to wait a day or two for it.
Scientists explained that the new technology detects the infection accurately at a rate of 96%.
It is said that it works on “Christper” technology, used to modify genes that are used to detect several types of cancer.
The person puts saliva in a tube leading to a hotspot of the device to prepare the sample.
He then waits for three to six minutes until the saliva enters the filter, then the filter is taken out to be put in the interaction chamber, where it is placed in two bottles working on “Christper” technology.
A molecular scissors cut a certain thread of DNA in saliva which is only in a certain breed of Covid-19.
If the sample is positive, a shows the message with with naked eye, after 55 minutes.
There is an app on mobile to see the results with the mobile camera.
Scientists pointed out that the cost of the components of the device at this time is $15, but it will be $6 when it is widely manufactured.