An Accurate and Inexpensive COVID-19 Testing Device

University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

The motherboard of a COVID-19 rapid testing device that UF Health researchers helped develop. (Image: Houndstoothe Analytics)

Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a COVID-19 testing device that can detect coronavirus infection in as little as 30 seconds as sensitively and accurately as a PCR, or polymerase chain reaction test, the gold standard of testing. They are working with scientists at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan.

According to the researchers, the device could transform public health officials’ ability to quickly detect and respond to the coronavirus — or the next pandemic. UF has entered into a licensing agreement with a New Jersey company, Houndstoothe Analytics, in hopes of ultimately manufacturing and selling the device, not just to medical professionals but also to consumers. Like PCR tests, the device is 90 percent accurate, researchers said, with the same sensitivity, according to a recent peer-reviewed study published by the UF group.

The device is not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. First, researchers said, they have to ensure that test results are not thrown off by cross-contamination with other pathogens that might be found in the mouth and saliva. These include other coronaviruses, staph infections, the flu, pneumonia and 20 others. That work is ongoing.

The hand-held apparatus is powered by a 9-V battery and uses an inexpensive test strip, similar to those used in blood glucose meters, with coronavirus antibodies attached to a gold-plated film at its tip. The strip is placed on the tongue to collect a tiny saliva sample. It is then inserted into a reader connected to a circuit board with the brains of the device.

If someone is infected, the coronavirus in the saliva binds with the antibodies and begins a dance of sorts as they are prodded by two electrical pulses processed by a special transistor. A higher concentration of coronavirus changes the electrical conductance of the sample. That, in turn, alters the voltage of the electrical pulses.

The voltage signal is amplified a million times and converted to a numerical value — in a sense, the sample’s electrochemical fingerprint. That value will indicate a positive or negative result, and the lower the value, the higher the viral load. The device’s ability to quantify viral and antibody load makes it especially useful for clinical purposes, researchers said. The research team is also studying its ability to detect specific proteins that could be used to diagnose other illnesses, including cancer, a heart attack, and immune health.

The team believes the device could be usable for venues with large crowds, such as concerts, sporting events, classrooms, in addition to medical settings. According to the researchers, the unit would also provide access to accurate, inexpensive testing in rural areas or in developing nations.

For more information, contact Bill Levesque at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; 352-265-9417.