A breakthrough biomarker detection technology can rapidly detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus and screen more than 100,000 patient specimens per day using standard MRI systems available in hospitals.

Menon Biosensors, Inc. (San Diego, CA, USA) has developed an advanced system and method for detecting the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The system, known as Molecular Mirror, is a detection technique that produces 100% accurate results within 30 minutes of bacterial and viral pathogens tests that at scale could be capable of testing upwards of 100,000 patients per day.

The Molecular Mirror assay achieves high sensitivity and specificity by use of magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with target-specific biomarkers that bind to specific regions of a pathogen's genome. The sample, with bound nanoparticles, is then processed to produce a change in its magnetic properties, specifically the "spin-spin relaxation time," thus producing a signal in the presence of the target of interest, in this case detecting the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This test can be conducted within any MRI machine in the world. The Molecular Mirror assay has achieved 100% detection with no false positives in multiple double-blind tests.

"The Molecular Mirror is a novel, minimal-cost detection platform that enables rapid visualization of an invisible enemy: the SARS-CoV-2 virus. All equipment required for the protocol is readily available in hospital settings. The platform can screen more than 100,000 patient specimens per day per MRI unit. The sensitivity is currently less than 100 viral copies per reaction with 100% specificity. Although technology is currently used in vitro, future application could involve in vivo scanning for various viral and bacterial pathogens," said Dr. Suresh Menon, Founder and President of Menon. "By utilizing existing collection stations and MRI facilities, we could screen the entire population of the US within a day for active cases." 

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