Kehn-Hall working to test and deploy tool to improve coronavirus detection and diagnosis

Kylene Kehn-Hall, Associate Professor/Associate Director, School of Systems Biology, National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, is working to rapidly test and deploy a universal virus enrichment tool that can be used to enhance the detection of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) for any type of diagnostic assay under development, thereby reducing false negatives and the risk of worldwide pandemic.

The project will focus on creating a deployable sample processing solution for SARS-CoV-2 pre-concentration from viral transport media and brochoalveolar lavage fluid samples for improved detection of infected patients exhibiting low viral titers. Concentrating SARS-CoV-2 prior to running a diagnostic assay will improve the detection of coronavirus in asymptomatic patients.

Kehn-Hall received $250,000 from Schmidt Futures for this project. Funding began in March 2020 and will conclude in March 2021.

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