C-FAST: Rapid point-of-care molecular test in test strip format for COVID-19

Raytheon BBN, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

TECHNOLOGY SUMMARY

Tech Brief: C-FAST is an easy-to-use, point-of-care, saliva-based, molecular diagnostic for SARS-CoV-2 in a paper test-strip format, appropriate for use in clinics, schools, drugstores, worksites, community care settings, and at-home. Positive results are indicated by a visual color change. C-FAST can be manufactured at large volume and low cost.

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SHOWCASE SUMMARY

FIGURES OF MERIT

Value Proposition: The point-of-care diagnostic market is highly fragmented but demand exists for a cost effective and user friendly testing solution. Competitors such as Abbot and Roche are dominant in the clinic setting. They benefited from leveraging established multiuse diagnostic instruments which tend to be very expensive and installed in more centralized facilities. C-FAST is potentially disruptive to established diagnostic testing by offering a highly distributed, cost effective testing alternative. Potential markets include corporate settings, schools, pop up testing and home use. The C-FAST molecular assay can be rapidly reconfigured for other viruses, and the test format allows testing of multiple targets at once. Our goal for our COVID test is to create an easy-to-use test that could scale to the volume needed to address the health crisis. In the longer term, the technology could be targeted to provide rapid at home diagnosis, or be used as a multiplexed test to differentially diagnose respiratory infections in a clinical setting. The test format is also unique – the paper format will allow the production to be scaled efficiently using reel-to-reel production. We have also developed the test to be compatible with saliva – which is less invasive than alternative sampling techniques.