Femtomolar SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Detection Using the Microbubbling Digital Assay with Smartphone Readout Enables Antigen Burden Quantitation and Dynamics Tracking

Chen H, Li Z, Feng S, Wang A, Richard-Greenblatt M, Hutson E, Andrianus S, Glaser LJ, Rodino KG, Qian J, Jayaraman D, Collman RG, Glascock A, Bushman FD, Lee JS, Cherry S, Fausto A, Weiss SR, Koo H, Corby PM, O’Doherty U, Garfall AL, Vogl DT, Stadtmauer EA, Wang P. Femtomolar SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Detection Using the Microbubbling Digital Assay with Smartphone Readout Enables Antigen Burden Quantitation and Dynamics Tracking. medRxiv [Preprint]. 2021 Mar 26:2021.03.17.21253847. doi: 10.1101/2021.03.17.21253847. Update in: Clin Chem. 2021 Dec 30;68(1):230-239. PMID: 33791710; PMCID: PMC8010739.

Abstract

Little is known about the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 antigen burden in respiratory samples in different patient populations at different stages of infection. Current rapid antigen tests cannot quantitate and track antigen dynamics with high sensitivity and specificity in respiratory samples.