SHERLOCK tagged posts

The tabletop diagnostic yields results in an hour and can be programmed to detect variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Researchers report that the diagnostic is just as accurate as PCR tests.

Engineers at MIT and Harvard University showed that the device can also be used to detect specific viral mutations linked to some of the SARS-CoV-2 variants that are now circulating. This result can also be obtained within an hour, potentially making it much easier to track different variants of the virus, especially in regions that don’t have access to genetic sequencing facilities.

“We demonstrated that our platform can be ...

This is a collection of SHERLOCK paper test strips. (Left) Unused paper strips. (Middle) Paper tests displaying a negative SHERLOCK readout. (Right) Paper tests displaying a positive SHERLOCK readout. Credit: Zhang lab, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

100-fold greater sensitivity, ability to detect multiple targets at once, and other improvements provide more power for detecting genetic signatures. The team that first unveiled the rapid, inexpensive, highly sensitive CRISPR-based diagnostic tool called SHERLOCK has greatly enhanced the tool’s power, and has developed a miniature paper test that allows results to be seen with the naked eye – without the need for expensive equipment.

The SHERLOCK team developed a simple paper strip to display test results for a single genetic signature, b...