University of Texas at Dallas researchers have developed a rapid virus test using gold particles and lasers that promises to deliver results as accurate as lab tests in a fraction of the time.
The technology, called digital plasmonic nanobubble detection — or Diamond for short — is 150 times more accurate than standard rapid tests, according to a study published in Nature Communications last month. Its accuracy is comparable to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which take hours to perform.
The team of UTD scientists that authored the study, led by associate professor of mechanical engineering Dr. Zhenpeng Qin, tested Diamond against respiratory syncytial virus, although the researchers say the technology can be used to detect other prominent viruses, like COVID-19 and influenza.
