Development of RT-Nucleic Acid Based Rapid Diagnostic Test for SARS-COV2

LOD]). A multivariate regression model will be fit to explore the relationship between participant age and sex and testing RDT positive, after adjustment for COV RNA concentration vi) Packaging of NARDT: The NARDT will come as a kit containing the Twist DX Basic RT kit, separate Rnase inhibitor, probes and primers, and PCRD cassettes vii) Capacity building: Health professionals who are part of an ongoing COVID19 active case program across the country will be trained to use COVID 19 NARDT. A total of 20 health professionals will be demonstrating competence in completing the RDT procedure and interpretation of test results. D: Expected outcomes The project is expected to develop an accurate, highly sensitive and specific rapid test for SASCOV2. • Product: Validated new testing principle for real time detection of SARS-COV2 • Data: Produced the preliminary data on sensitivity and specificity of RT NA-RADT for SARSCOV2 The key outcomes of the projects are: • Improvement of sensitivity through temperature optimization and RT/MgOAC titration • New models for use of saliva samples in place of nasal/oropharyngeal swabs - nasal swabs considered as invasive and uncomfortable • Elimination of extraction step through use of optimized crude samples to make it a true POC/field test • Assessment of minimum template requirements - up to fg quantities of DNA • Multiplexing two primer-probe pairs e.g, Spike gp and RdRP and ORF3 or 8 all in one reaction for double detection of virus as the second step of validation