Smart and connected devices in point-of-care molecular diagnostics: what role can they play in the response to COVID-19?

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has been a huge public health challenge that has led to significant morbidity and mortality across the globe. Given the high prevalence and continued circulation of SARS-CoV-2 infection globally, accurate and rapid point-of-care testing is critical.

Areas covered

Knowledge of role of digital technology including smart and connected devices in rapid diagnosis of COVID-19 is an evolving area of scientific investigation. This review discusses the importance of rapid at-home point-of-care testing, highlighting the possible role of smart and connected device-based molecular diagnostics for COVID-19.

Expert opinion

Accurate and rapid diagnostic modalities have the potential to improve accessibility and efficiency of diagnosis of symptomatic and asymptomatic patients and could be instrumental in timely implementation of appropriate therapeutic interventions as well as public health measures to mitigate spread of infection. With emerging challenges like newer viral variants, global vaccine shortages and vaccine hesitancy, accurate diagnostic testing with the ability to rapidly identify infection remains critical. Digital technologies are likely to become important tools in future of healthcare and technological advancements may play a crucial role in response to COVID-19 with the goal of ultimately overcoming this pandemic.

KEYWORDS:

• SARS CoV-2
• COVID-19 molecular diagnostics
• rapid point-of-care testing

Article highlights

• Accurate and rapid diagnostic modalities have the potential to improve efficiency of COVID-19 diagnosis in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

• The potential advantages of rapid molecular home-based point-of-care (POC) testing include high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity, a rapid turnaround time with results available within minutes, and ease of access at home. While rapid point-of-care testing by antigen-based platforms offers the advantage of rapid turnaround time, they are less accurate than molecular-based tests.

• Smart and connected device-based molecular tests could potentially play a role not only in infection control imperative to prevent spread of infection to susceptible people, but also in prompt implementation of appropriate management strategies in the form of therapeutic and preventive interventions.

• As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves with emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 viral variants coupled with uncertain vaccination coverage, molecular-based self-testing could be instrumental in preventing infection transmission.

• While the pandemic has facilitated the deployment of digital technology, rapid at-home molecular diagnostic tests are still not widely available, and more research into the real-world performance of existing assays is needed.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewers Disclosure

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Author Contributions

Dr. Kaushik and Dr. Gupta contributed equally as co-first authors.

Concept and design: All authors.

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: Kaushik, Gupta, Sood, Steussy, Noll

Drafting of the manuscript: Kaushik, Sood, Gupta Steussy, Noll

Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Kaushik, Sood, Gupta, Steussy, Noll

Administrative, technical, or material support: Kaushik, Gupta

Supervision: Kaushik, Sood, Gupta

None of the authors have any financial disclosures or other conflicting relationships. The authors fully acknowledge and comply with the Journal’s Conflict of Interest policy. All authors are aware of and in agreement with submission of this paper to Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.