A cost-effective and broadly applicable mimetope based diagnostic platform for high-impact pandemics

Purpose and goal Serology testing to determine individuals who have had SARS-CoV-2 is urgently needed to effectively manage the pandemic, and a first generation of tests is rushed to market. These offer simple yes/no outcomes, while not accounting for the huge variability in individuals and immunity levels. They do not provide insight into the evolution of the pandemic and the nature of matching antibodies. TESTOMETIC will deliver a mimetope-based Point of Care (PoC) diagnostic test that can identify and measure antibodies reacting with various SARS-CoV-2 epitopes. Expected results and effects TESTOMETIC will deliver a mimetope-based Point of Care (PoC) diagnostic test that can identify and measure antibodies reacting with various SARS-CoV-2 epitopes. TESTOMETIC will implement a next generation and widely applicable PoC platform that uses magnetic lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) for more sensitive quantitation. The PoC test will be a first demonstrator product of the platform for infectious diseases. By the end of the project, the test will be ready for CE-IVD certification. Planned approach and implementation The project is divided into three parts. The first step is screening and optimizing mimetopes that bind to antibodies generated to Covid-19. The second step is the development of the magnetic lateral flow strip that is compatible with the magnetic MagniaReader. The final step is the technical and clinical evaluation of the test.