East Haven Molecular Diagnostics Lab Made Rapid Coronavirus Test
EAST HAVEN, CT — In an otherwise nondescript location on Panagrossi Circle, a team of biomedical scientists have developed a non-invasive, saliva-based COVID-19 rapid test process that uses digital nanosensors for infection detection. Its process called Veralize has been tested with synthetic strains of COVID and yielded 95 percent accuracy rate, the scientist behind it said.
Now, they just need folks to sign up here for the saliva-only test, with results in 20 minutes.
Developed by a team led by a PhD from the University of New Haven, the work is being done in the East Haven lab of 12-15 Molecular Diagnostics run by Dr. Saion Sinha and staffed with recent university graduates and an intern on this project.
Sinha is a professor of physics, biomedical and electrical engineering in the University of New Haven Mathematics/Physics and Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science departments. Described as an "expert in nanotechnology," his university research was focused on biomedical engineering applications. And his Veralize process for COVID-19 detection is a result. While partnering with UCONN, the University of New Haven and Waterbury Hospital, Sinha took the process out of the university and into his East Haven lab.
The town's new economic development director Ray Baldwin joined Mayor Joseph A. Carfora on a site visit in August.
"The town of East Haven is excited to have 12-15 Molecular Diagnostics begin their operations in our community," Baldwin said. "In the midst of this pandemic, they've devised a state-of-the-art COVID testing process that is safe, effective and non-intrusive. We encourage residents to avail themselves of this new service."
The process uses a "painless" saliva sample on prepped nano-sensors and if viral DNA/RNA is present, the lab's "Machine Learning" algorithms detect it. It's highly accurate and fast, Sinha said. And the technology used is portable.
"Infectious diseases will continue to be a threat even after COVID has been managed," Sinha's lab says on its website, noting its Veralize system is "designed to identify a wide range of bacterial and viral infections. "
The 12-15 Molecular Diagnostics developed COVID test process is not yet FDA approved because they need more tests to be done to provide the federal agency with more data. So far, all the tests 12-15 Molecular Diagnostics has done of around 50 East Haven residents have come back negative. Which is a good thing from a public health perspective, but for the data, the process needs test results from a variety of people. Sinha said the FDA is encouraging labs to expand testing to bring in more results and data in the approval process.
"We're the chicken and the egg story," Sinha said. "We need positive cases. That's the only reason we don't have FDA approval yet."
Sinha said his lab's "Hallmark is we would test everyone, especially the asymptomatic."
It says schools could benefit from using his test: "Students will be returning to classrooms and rapid on-site testing can provide peace of mind for families and staff." He said he'd work with schools to do testing. And, small businesses. He said the process would be ideal to "keep your employees and customers safe with a low-cost testing regimen and contact tracing capability." Sinha said a Shelton-based real estate company will be using his testing for its workers. And for sports teams, too, he said, the process would be helpful: "When one team member is exposed, the entire team is vulnerable. Routine testing keeps everyone on the field."
"People can come to our facility, give their saliva and wait 20 minutes for the result, or have results emailed later.
For more information, or to sign up for the $20 test at the lab's 37 Panagrossi Circle location, visit the website here.
This article originally appeared on the East Haven Patch
