Journal: Biomedicines

Article Title: Highly Sensitive and Quantitative Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 Using a Gold/Platinum Particle-Based Lateral Flow Assay and a Desktop Scanning Electron Microscope

doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10020447

Figure Lengend Snippet: Comparison of lateral flow assay (LFA) detection methods for SARS-CoV-2 using clinical samples: ( a ) The accuracy of visual diagnosis was assessed by testing SARS-CoV-2-negative and -positive patients using qRT-PCR and the antigen solutions from the same patients, and then calculated the area under the curve (AUC) for the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. ( b ) Detection via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) using the test line (TL)/background area (BA) ratio. A TL/BA ratio of 1.975 was chosen as the threshold cut-off value based on the ROC curve study to differentiate SARS-CoV-2 infection. ( c ) TL/BA ratio (log10) and cycle threshold (Ct) scatter plot. Triple-positive results (“visual detection-positive”, “SEM detection-positive”, and “qRT-PCR detection-positive”) are represented with blue dots, double-positive results (“SEM detection-positive” and “qRT-PCR detection-positive”) are represented with red dots, and single-positive results (“qRT-PCR detection-positive”) are represented with green dots. The approximate slope is indicated by the blue dotted line.

Article Snippet: Although it is difficult to accurately compare the cost because of the differences in equipment and kits, the cost of the desktop SEM system is approximately the same as the real-time PCR machine in Hamamatsu University Hospital.

Techniques: Comparison, Lateral Flow Assay, Biomarker Discovery, Quantitative RT-PCR, Electron Microscopy, Infection