The Governing Council of the University of Toronto

Published purpose

The team aims to develop latex agglutination tests (LATs) that will allow for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus (to assess infection) and host antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (to assess immunity) in saliva samples. The LATs will be completed in a single step, the results will be readable by visual inspection, and the tests will be completed in less than 5 minutes. Assay reagents will be tuned and optimized for lyophilization and storage (in formulations including custom stabilization reagent mixtures), such that they can be incorporated into NRC saliva collection and inspection cartridges at low cost. When complete, the new systems have the potential to revolutionize current COVID-19 testing protocols, allowing rapid and reliable testing at home, in airports, at border crossings, in long-term care facilities, and beyond.