Colorimetric and multiplexed isothermal rna-based assay for sars-cov-2 and other viral diagnostics and cell analysis

Abstract

Methods, devices, and kits for performing rapid, highly sensitive, high throughput, accurate, and flexible detection and quantification of nucleic acids based on highly optimized rolling circle amplification are provided. The methods, devices, and kits can be used to detect and track an emergent virus or other pathogen, including SARS-CoV-2, to test and diagnose individual patients with respect to a specific pathogen or disease, including COVID-19, and to detect and analyze cellular nucleic acids. The methods and devices also can be used to detect fragments and variants of DNA or RNA, including those present in cancer cells. The methods, devices, and kits are suitable for use in both high throughput screening carried out in centralized testing laboratories and in point-of-care testing devices used in the field, at home, in the workplace, or at public facilities for rapid detection and diagnosis.