Oral COVID-19 Disclosing Test: A Novel Rapid Technique in Infection Diagnosis

Abstract

COVID-19 is an acute respiratory disease caused by novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV. Recently, on March 11, 2020, COVID-19 was declared by the WHO as a virus pandemic disease. Nucleic acid real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test has become the standard method for diagnosis of SARS-CoV 2 infection; these real time PCR test kits have many limitations. Antibody tests are expensive and not available, especially in the developing countries. There is an urgent need for an accurate and rapid test method to quickly identify a large number of infected patients and asymptomatic persons, and also which can be available all over the world. We propose a new test technique based on the use of oral gel, mouthwash, or tablets that color the area where the virus is localized in mouth, to diagnose the COVID-19 infection. In fact, our test is composed of specific COVID-19 antibody IgM and IgG coupled to colorful or fluorescent molecules. As of April 2020, the study is waiting to be funded and clinical trials will be prepared to be lunched to get advantage of the technique in order to improve COVID-19 testing.