Early development of self‐administered COVID‐19 rapid test based on nucleocapsid detection in saliva sample

Siti Soidah; Toto Subroto; Sari Syahruni; Fauzian Giansyah; Henry Chandra; Dhiya Salsabila; Bachti Alisjahbana; Nisa Fauziah; Hesti Lina Wiraswati; Leonardus Wiydatmoko; Basti Andriyoko; Anita Yuwita; Muhammad Yusuf

doi:10.22146/ijbiotech.72269

Early development of self‐administered COVID‐19 rapid test based on nucleocapsid detection in saliva sample

https://doi.org/10.22146/ijbiotech.72269

Siti Soidah⁽¹⁾, Toto Subroto⁽²⁾, Sari Syahruni⁽³⁾, Fauzian Giansyah⁽⁴⁾, Henry Chandra⁽⁵⁾, Dhiya Salsabila⁽⁶⁾, Bachti Alisjahbana⁽⁷⁾, Nisa Fauziah⁽⁸⁾, Hesti Lina Wiraswati⁽⁹⁾, Leonardus Wiydatmoko⁽¹⁰⁾, Basti Andriyoko⁽¹¹⁾, Anita Yuwita⁽¹²⁾, Muhammad Yusuf^(13*)

(1) Master of Biotechnology Program, School of Postgraduates, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl. Dipatiukur 35 Bandung, West Java 40132, Indonesia
(2) Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl. Raya Bandung‐Sumedang Km 21, Jatinangor, Sumedang, West Java 45363, Indonesia; Research Center for Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl. Singaperbangsa 2 Bandung, West Java 40132, Indonesia
(3) Research Center for Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl.Singaperbangsa 2 Bandung, West Java 40132, Indonesia
(4) Research Center for Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl.Singaperbangsa 2 Bandung, West Java 40132, Indonesia
(5) Research Center for Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl.Singaperbangsa 2 Bandung, West Java 40132, Indonesia
(6) Research Center for Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl.Singaperbangsa 2 Bandung, West Java 40132, Indonesia
(7) Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Jl. Pasteur No.38 Bandung, West Java 40161, Indonesia
(8) Department of Biomedical Sciences, Parasitology Division, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl. Raya Bandung‐Sumedang Km 21, Jatinangor, Sumedang, West Java 45363, Indonesia
(9) Department of Biomedical Sciences, Parasitology Division, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl. Raya Bandung‐Sumedang Km 21, Jatinangor, Sumedang, West Java 45363, Indonesia
(10) Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Jl. Pasteur No.38 Bandung, West Java 40161, Indonesia
(11) Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Jl. Pasteur No.38 Bandung, West Java 40161, Indonesia
(12) Research and Development Division, PT. Pakar Biomedika, Jl. Rancabentang No.12B Ciumbuleuit, Bandung, West Java 40142, Indonesia
(13) Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl. Raya Bandung‐Sumedang Km 21, Jatinangor, Sumedang, West Java 45363, Indonesia; Research Center for Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl. Singaperbangsa 2 Bandung, West Java 40132, Indonesia
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract

More than 6,000,000 people have died due to the coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic. This disease spread quickly due to its highly contagious nature. The SARS‐CoV‐2 virus that causes the disease can be transmitted through saliva droplets secreted by infected people at a distance of less than 1 m. As a result, saliva has been accepted as an alternative specimen for COVID‐19 detection by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Furthermore, WHO recommended the use of rapid antigen tests based on lateral flow immunoassay when reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) is not available. We developed a saliva‐based rapid antigen test by optimizing the antibody concentration and optimum pH for the conjugation of antibody and gold nanoparticles. We found that the best running buffer formulation consisted of 75 mM sodium phosphate buffer, 1% NaCl, 1% Triton X‐100, 0.5% N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine, and 0.02% sodium azide. The addition of a mucolytic agent in the buffer can reduce the viscosity of saliva, thus improving sensitivity. The rapid test developed detected the lowest concentration of nucleocapsid protein at 0.1 μg/mL. Our study revealed 100% specificity against negative COVID‐19 saliva and no cross‐reaction with avian influenza virus hemagglutinin.

Keywords

lateral flow immunoassay; rapid antigen test; saliva; SARS‐CoV‐2; self‐test

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References

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/ijbiotech.72269