1 | Test Developer | Centralized lab vs. POC | Upstream processing | Detection & signal amp. | Readout | Time | Cost* | Greatest advantage | Greatest weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | CDC (and other RT-qPCR test developers) | Centralized | RNA purification | RT-qPCR | Fluorometric | 4-6 hrs** | ~$20-30 | FDA-approved, low-cost | Very limited capacity, Labour- & cost- intensive at scale |
3 | Broad Institute (Mega-Lab) | Centralized | RNA extraction | LAMP | DNA seq | 1-2 hrs** | ~$10 | High-throughput, low-cost | Centralized, Not applicable to POC |
4 | Abbott | Centralized | RNA extraction | LAMP | Fluorometric | < 30 min end-to-end | ~$40 | FDA approved, rapid | Centralized, expensive, not yet in production |
5 | Mammoth Biosciences | Centralized/POC (needs upstream sample processing) | RNA purification | RT-LAMP + Cas12 | Lateral flow | 1-2 hrs** | ~$10 | Low-cost, device- independent | Needs RNA purification, limited capacity, not yet validated |
6 | Sherlock Biosciences | Centralized/POC (needs upstream sample processing) | RNA purification | RPA-RT + Cas13 | Lateral flow | 1-2 hrs** | ~$10 | Low-cost, device- independent | Needs RNA purification, limited capacity, not yet validated |
7 | Francis Crick Institute | Centralized | RNA purification | RT-qPCR | Fluorometric | 4-6 hrs** | ~$10 | UK approved. No proprietary bottlenecks. | Labour intensive at scale. |
8 | OpenCell (OpenTrons & Bomb.Bio) | Distributed | RNA purification | RT-qPCR | Fluorometric | 5 hrs (no shipping) | ~$10 | Open source. Distributed containers. Automated. | Not yet in production or approved. |