SHERLOCK and DETECTR CRISPR-CAS systems as better diagnostic tools for COVID-19

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2, the mighty manslayer, responsible for COVID-19, has currently killed over 1.54 million people worldwide and 141,000 in India alone. It has affected around 67 million people globally and 9.68 million in India. It has quarantined the whole world. Doctors and scientists are working around the clock to save the world from this deadly virus. Since the number of patients is increasing rapidly, it is essential to test as many suspects as possible. But with the diagnostic tests that are being used currently, the polymerase chain reaction, antibody detection (Serological tests), Rapid Diagnostic tests (RDT), antigen tests and Isothermal Amplification assays are time consuming and there is a high chance that the test might come back with the wrong results. SHERLOCK and DETECTR are CRISPR-based diagnostic tool that were recently worked upon and showed very promising results. The test results come back in less than 40 minutes and the tests are far more accurate than all of the current diagnostics which makes them far more efficient than the others.