The World Health Organisation recommends NAAT tests to detect SARS-CoV-2.
In the WHO Interim Guidance on Laboratory testing for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in suspected human cases (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/10665-331501), it states that “Suspected cases should be screened for the virus with nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), such as RT-PCR.”
According to the WHO, the types of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) are: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) – including nested (n), quantitative (q) or real-time reverse transcription (RT) PCR), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and quantitative nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (QT-NASBA). This is illustrated in the diagram below.
FRANKD is a NAAT, specifically, it is a Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) test, which are sometimes called Isothermal tests. LAMP is a more modern technology than RT-PCR which has been used for several decades. Although LAMP is a newer technology, it is technically simpler and easier for technicians to perform, making it an ideal technology for a point-of-care test (POCT).
