1. What is the FLASH Test?
The FLASH Test is a molecular in vitro diagnostic detection system based on one-pot and loop probe-mediated isothermal amplification reaction (oLAMP) and lateral flow technologies for the detection of DNA/RNA from pathogens in on-site collected specimens. The operation is as simple as the rapid antigen test and can identify lower amounts of pathogen particles, allowing for earlier diagnosis, whether there are or not symptoms presented.
2. What technology does the FLASH Test use?
The FLASH Test employs one-pot and loop probe-mediated isothermal amplification reaction (oLAMP), lateral flow strip technologies. and self-driven microfluidic technologies to identify nucleic acids from a specific part of the pathogen genome.
3. How does FLASH Test compare with other rapid test methods?
FLASH Test is a nucleic acid test-based pathogen detection method. It showed sensitivity and selectivity comparable to the gold standard PCR tests while getting rid of the dependence on lab facilities and skilled operators. Compared with the on-site rapid test kits, FLASH displays better sensitivity and robustness thanks to our patented rapid sample preparation workflow and highly efficient isothermal amplification technique (i.e., SampleDirect and oLAMP).
4. What kind of target does FLASH Test detect for the identification of pathogens?
Similar to the lab-based gold standard PCR method, FLASH Pet detects the specific genes of certain pathogens for the identification of them in samples.
5. How is the performance of the FLASH Test compared with lab-based methods and other rapid test kits?
FLASH displayed single-copy sensitivity, which was at the same level as a standard PCR test, and showed no cross-talk among 6 common pathogens in our experiment. Moreover, FLASH Test enabled equipment-free detection of nucleic acid targets within only 20 minutes including the user-friendly sample preparation, which is much more efficient than the standard PCR tests and could be conducted on-site in the clinics.
