GENSPEED Biotech GmbH has developed a rapid antibody test for the new SARS-CoV-2 virus. This rapid test can be used to determine whether a person has already formed antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The ELISA test chip developed by GENSPEED detects SARS-CoV-2 antibodies against three key components of the virus that are essential for infection.

"This type of multiplex detection to determine the antibodies is a special characteristic of the GENSPEED tests," said Sonnleitner.

According to Sonnleitner, an antigen test and a combined antibody/antigen test will be available soon, both based on this multiplex detection. These multiplex systems are enabled by the use of microfluidics, a technology also addressed by the joint HORIZON 2020 project NextGenMicrofluidics.

NextGenMicrofluidics

NextGenMicrofluidics is an Open Innovation Test Bed coordinated by the Institute MATERIALS of JOANNEUM RESEARCH. The project combines the competencies of 21 companies and research organizations along the entire value chain in the development of microfluidic lab-on-a-chip systems. The aim is to develop promptly systems for the point-of-care diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 as well as the corresponding immune status in Europe and to manufacture them with a high throughput of more than one million tests per month. In comparison, GENSPEED can currently produce up to 250 test chips per day in-house. This high-throughput production is essential, especially for rapid diagnostic tests in times of a pandemic, so that a large number of these tests can be used decentrally as diagnostic tools, e.g. by the family doctor, and provide test results quickly and efficiently. JOANNEUM RESEARCH and GENSPEED are working on these issues together with the NextGenMicrofluidics partners.