An ultraportable and versatile point-of-care DNA testing platform

Abstract

Point-of-care testing (POCT) has broad applications in resource-limited settings. Here, a POCT platform termed POCKET (point-of-care kit for the entire test) is demonstrated that is ultraportable and versatile for analyzing multiple types of DNA in different fields in a sample-to-answer manner. The POCKET is less than 100 g and smaller than 25 cm in length. The kit consists of an integrated chip (i-chip) and a foldable box (f-box). The i-chip integrates the sample preparation with a previously unidentified, triple signal amplification. The f-box uses a smartphone as a heater, a signal detector, and a result readout. We detected different types of DNA from clinics to environment to food to agriculture. The detection is sensitive (<103 copies/ml), specific (single-base differentiation), speedy (<2 hours), and stable (>10 weeks shelf life). This inexpensive, ultraportable POCKET platform may become a versatile sample-to-answer platform for clinical diagnostics, food safety, agricultural protection, and environmental monitoring.