A novel point-of-care platform for rapid SARS-CoV-2 detection utilizing an all-in-one 3D-printed microfluidic cartridge and IoT technology

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has created a significant demand for diagnostic tests, leading to shortages in medical supplies and hindering efforts to control infection outbreaks. We developed a novel point-of-care (POC) molecular diagnostic platform for SARS-CoV-2 identification utilizing a self-contained 3D-printed microfluidic cartridge and an internet-of-things-based diagnostic device. The platform enables automated downstream processes including magnetic bead-based RNA extraction, precise liquid aliquoting into four micro-reactors, accurate temperature control for reverse transcription-loop mediated isothermal amplification reaction, real-time fluorescence detection by a CMOS sensor, and data processing and display. The whole process is completed within 70 minutes with a limit of detection of 1×10⁻¹ copies/μl in a miniaturized size (16 cm [height] × 12 cm [width] × 9 cm [length]). This advanced POC platform is simple and low-cost for manufacturing with 3D-printing technology and can play a crucial role in addressing medical supply shortages and relieving the urgent demand for COVID-19 tests.