SaLux


SaLux

is a novel testing device aimed at the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva. 

Under development by Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine (MPIem) in Göttingen. 

SaLux

SaLux, which was developed by David Gomez Varela, Ph.D. and Prof. Dr. Walter Stühmer at the MPIem in Göttingen, is a hand-sized device enabling a rapid, lab-free, simple, inexpensive, non-invasive, and accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva. 


From the operational perspective, the test results are available within 20-30 minutes after the test is taken. Moreover, the test can be executed at any location without trained personnel and only requires a small amount of saliva to detect pathogens. With a cost of 5€ per test and a low three-digit amount for the device, it is inexpensive. 


SaLux detects pathogens (i.e., SARS-CoV-2) using a High-Resolution LAMP assay (HR-LAMP). Currently, we are validating the accuracy using patient samples. Up to now, SaLux has detected all saliva samples spiked with SARS-CoV-2 added at known concentrations. The limit-of-detection (LOD) of SaLux is 103 SARS-CoV-2 virus/ml saliva. Importantly, this concentration is three orders of magnitude smaller than the average concentration in saliva of infected patients at the peak of the infectious period, opening the door to detect contagious individuals when they are pre- or asymptomatic.  Another advantage of SaLux is that it works using chemicals that will remain available regardless of the high demand for PCR reagents. 


Despite the intense funding flowing into research to develop interventions against COVID-19, the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is far from being contained. Mass testing (especially of high-risk groups) and identifying infectious individuals is vital to reduce the pandemic's devastating socioeconomic consequences until an effective vaccine is widely available. Currently, SARS-CoV-2 detection is based on tests that suffer from at least one major disadvantage, preventing timely and effective mass testing. Molecular laboratory tests (e.g., PCR) are resource-intensive and deliver results only after one to three days. Quick point-of-care antigen tests are simpler and faster, but less sensitive, therefore incorrectly diagnosing people as non-infectious. These solutions involve unpleasant nasal and throat swabs. Additionally, only trained personal can perform these tests, rendering it unsuitable for large-scale testing.


Controlling the spread of COVID-19 requires rapid, easy to perform, accurate, and repeated testing on millions of people. SaLux aims to solve this trade-off between effectiveness and speed.

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