Diagnostics for virus
This research area aims at developing alternative viral RNA diagnostics by:
- Establishing testing capacity using alternative technologies to that used in the main testing program, as backup capacity and to ascertain self-sufficiency in case of deficiency of testing reagents from the present suppliers.
- Examining alternative technologies that would enable simpler, cheaper and faster testing, as well as testing outside the health-care system such as self-sampling and self-testing. This part will harness the wide range of advanced technologies developed by SciLifeLab research groups.
The projects will also be able to connect with the Rapid testing of SARS-Cov-2 in national coordination with health care project, part of the SciLifeLab/KAW Program for SARS-CoV-2 testing, to test and compare methods.
This area consists of 5 individual projects, funded a total of 2,3 MSEK. Led by researchers at Uppsala University, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm University.
Scientific lead: Ulf Gyllensten, Uppsala University

Projects
Simple and cheap remote test for infection based on HCR
Björn Högberg, Karolinska Institutet
COVID-19 screening test design
Masood Kamali-Moghaddam, Uppsala University
iLACO-Sweden
Vicent Pelechano, Karolinska Institutet
Extraction-free high-sensitive RT assay for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection
Björn Reinius, Karolinska Institutet