https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-scientists-develop-faster-covid-19-test Skip to main content * U.S. Department of Health & Human Services National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Turning Discovery into Health Search the NIH Website [ ][Search] * NIH Employee Intranet * Staff Directory * En Espanol Site Menu * Home * Health Information + Health Info Lines + Find Health Services + HealthCare.gov + NIH Clinical Research Trials and You + Talking to Your Doctor + Science Education Resources + Community Resources + Clear Health A-Z + Publications List More >> Search Health Topics [ ] [Go] Quick Links + MedlinePlus Health Info + NIH News in Health + Wellness Toolkits * Grants & Funding + Grants Home Page + Find Funding + Due Dates + How to Apply + About Grants + Policy & Compliance + Grants News/Blog + Contracts + Loan Repayment More >> Search the NIH Guide [ ] [Go] Quick Links + RePORT + eRA Commons + NIH Common Fund * News & Events + News Releases + Digital Media Kits + Media Resources + Media Contacts + Images and B-roll + Events + Social Media More >> Quick Links + NIH News in Health + NIH Research Matters + NIH Record * Research & Training + Medical Research Initiatives + Science Highlights + Science Education + Research in NIH Labs & Clinics + Training Opportunities + Library Resources + Research Resources + Clinical Research Resources + Safety, Regulation and Guidance More >> Quick Links + PubMed + Stem Cell Information + OppNet + NIDB + NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research * Institutes at NIH + List of Institutes, Centers & Offices + NIH Office of the Director + Directors of NIH Institutes and Centers + NIH Institute and Center Contact Information More >> Quick Links + NCI + NEI + NHLBI + NHGRI + NIA + NIAAA + NIAID + NIAMS + NIBIB + NICHD + NIDCD + NIDCR + NIDDK + NIDA + NIEHS + NIGMS + NIMH + NIMHD + NINDS + NINR + NLM + CC + CIT + CSR + FIC + NCATS + NCCIH + OD * About NIH + Who We Are + What We Do + Jobs at NIH + Visitor Information + Frequently Asked Questions + Contact Us More >> Quick Links + The NIH Director + The NIH Almanac + NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health^(r) + Impact of NIH Research + Science, Health, and Public Trust COVID-19 * Get the latest public health information from CDC * Get the latest research information from NIH | Espanol * NIH staff guidance on coronavirus (NIH Only) You are here Home >> News & Events >> News Releases News Releases News Release Monday, August 16, 2021 NIH scientists develop faster COVID-19 test Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have developed a new sample preparation method to detect SARS-Cov-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The method bypasses extraction of the virus' genetic RNA material, simplifying sample purification and potentially reducing test time and cost. The method is the result of a collaboration among researchers at the National Eye Institute (NEI), the NIH Clinical Center (CC), and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). Diagnostic testing remains a crucial tool in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Standard tests for detection of SARS-CoV-2 involve amplifying viral RNA to detectable levels using a technique called quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). But first, the RNA must be extracted from the sample. Manufacturers of RNA extraction kits have had difficulty keeping up with demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, hindering testing capacity worldwide. With new virus variants emerging, the need for better, faster tests is greater than ever. A team led by Robert B. Hufnagel, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the NEI Medical Genetics and Ophthalmic Genomic Unit, and Bin Guan, Ph.D., a fellow at the Ophthalmic Genomics Laboratory at NEI, used a chelating agent made by the lab supply company Bio-Rad called Chelex 100 resin to preserve SARS-CoV-2 RNA in samples for detection by RT-qPCR. "We used nasopharyngeal and saliva samples with various virion concentrations to evaluate whether they could be used for direct RNA detection," said Guan, the lead author of a report on the technique, which published this week in iScience. "The answer was yes, with markedly high sensitivity. Also, this preparation inactivated the virus, making it safer for lab personnel to handle positive samples." Hufnagel's team made their discovery by testing a variety of chemicals using synthetic and human samples to identify those that could preserve the RNA in samples with minimal degradation while allowing direct detection of the virus by RT-qPCR. To validate the test, NIDCR's Blake M. Warner, D.D.S., Ph.D., M.P.H., and his team collected patient samples (on Research Protocol NIH IRB 20-D-0094) and stored them in either viral transport media, or the newly developed chelating-resin-buffer at the NIH Symptomatic Testing Facility. The samples in viral transport media were tested by the COVID-19 testing team at NIH's Clinical Center, led by Karen M. Frank, M.D., Ph.D., using conventional RNA extraction and RT-qPCR testing. The samples in the chelating-resin-buffer were heated and the viral RNA was, then, tested by RT-qPCR. The new preparation significantly increased the RNA yield available for testing, compared to the standard method. "We think this novel methodology has clear benefits of increasing sensitivity, cost and time savings for testing," said Hufnagel, "The method stabilizes the RNA at room temperature for easier transport, storage, and handling in clinical settings." NEI has protected the intellectual property around this technology and is seeking partners for co-development/licensing. Please contact neitchtransfer@nei.nih.gov for more information.. The work was supported by grant number 1ZIAEY000564-02. About the National Eye Institute (NEI): NEI leads the federal government's research on the visual system and eye diseases. NEI supports basic and clinical science programs to develop sight-saving treatments and address special needs of people with vision loss. For more information, visit https://www.nei.nih.gov. About the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR): The mission of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is to improve dental, oral, and craniofacial health. As the largest oral health research funding organization in the world, NIDCR does this by supporting a broad research portfolio, which includes basic, translational and clinical research into areas such as: cancer; the microbiome; immunology; HIV/ AIDS; stem cells and regenerative medicine; genetics and rare diseases; and behavioral and social health disparities. About the NIH Clinical Center: The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC), America's research hospital, is located on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Md. Through clinical research, clinician-investigators translate laboratory discoveries into better treatments, therapies and interventions to improve the nation's health. For more information, visit: https://clinicalcenter.nih.gov. About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov. NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health^(r) References Guan, B., Frank, K.M., Maldonado, J.O., Beach, M., Pelayo, E., Warner, B.M., Hufnagel, R.B., Sensitive extraction-free SARS-CoV-2 RNA virus detection using a chelating resin, ISCIENCE (2021), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2021.102960. ### Institute/Center National Eye Institute (NEI) Contact Claudia Costabile or Dustin Hays 301-496-5248 Connect with Us * Subscribe to news releases * RSS Feed Connect with Us * Contact Us * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram * YouTube * Flickr * More Social Media from NIH Footer * NIH Home * En Espanol * Site Map * Visitor Information * Frequently Asked Questions * Web Policies and Notices * Freedom of Information Act * No Fear Act * Office of Inspector General * USA.gov - Government Made Easy NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health^(r) National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Back to Top