New pandemic diagnostics — SMART-LAMP

The COVID-19 pandemic underlined the need for fast, scalable, and sustainable diagnostic solutions to contain outbreaks and control disease transmission. The TOMi-corona initiative developed an innovative COVID-19 testing system: SMART-LAMP (Scalable Molecular Automation for Rapid Testing using LAMP).

This automated high-throughput system can process up to 40,000 samples per day using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) technology. It is fast, flexible, and cost-effective, and performs comparably to RT-qPCR — which has so far been the gold standard for the detection of SARS-related coronavirus 2.

The system makes use of existing laboratory infrastructure, which improves turnaround time and logistics relative to RT-qPCR-based testing. It is also more sustainable, because it reduces the use of plastics and consumables — in line with global sustainability goals.

This is a strong example of the power of public-private partnerships in addressing global health crises. The point is not only to solve today's challenges; it is to build resilient infrastructure for tomorrow. SMART-LAMP has the potential to serve as a foundation for diagnostics in future pandemics.

Read the full publication in Biology Methods & Protocols.