Critical design considerations for POC diagnostic test development

The spread of the SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic is driving an urgent need for extensive testing, in order to quickly and accurately assess both who is infected, and who has been infected. In order to reach the scale of testing needed, a dual approach of both reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) molecular tests and lateral flow based tests needs to be implemented. This session will discuss the design challenges encountered during COVID-19 rapid point of care (POC) diagnostic test development, and the solutions that exist to overcome them.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand current COVID-19 diagnostic technologies
2. Hear why a dual approach of both RT-PCR and lateral flow based tests is needed
3. Review design challenges you need to be aware of when developing a COVID-19 lateral flow test
4. Consider what support exists to help developers overcome design challenges