Invention:
University of Arizona researchers have developed a serological assay to test for prior exposure to SARS-CoV-2. The technology uses a two-step protocol to maximize the specificity of the assay and reduce false positives.
Background:
In late 2019, a novel coronavirus appeared in Wuhan, China. Since that time, this virus has spread worldwide, impacting everything from individual lives to the worldwide economy. The virus affected people in different ways. Some individuals had severe symptoms, leading to hospitalization or death, while other patients experienced no symptoms at all. This has led to many people wondering if they have been exposed to the virus.
While antibody-based tests have been developed, the largest issue to date is a high rate of false positives. This leads to skewed analytics and an incorrect belief of immunity in individuals who have a false positive result. This serological test's two-step testing protocol drastically reduces the false positive rate, helping people accurately determine if they have developed immunity to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Applications:
Advantages:
- Ease of use
- Two-step protocol
- Higher specificity
- Reduces false positives
Status: issued U.S. patent #11,119,103
COVID, COVID-19, COVID19, Coronavirus
