Thread by @JMRothberg

Reporting progress on #coronavirus Home Test from our teams internal email: Just wanted to give a brief update from the #molbio team as we build momentum towards delivering an at-home, user-friendly, rapid #COVID19 test...We are actually detecting Covid19 #RNA in solution now! 1/

... we got early proof today that we can do reactions from RNA (the genetics code of #SARSーCoVー2 not DNA so it’s more insidious). Our method (which amplified the RNA without a machine) is very tolerant of #saliva - (we still have to crack open the virus RNA for full proof) 2/

The parenthesis in the above tweets are my commentary and I also edited out jargon. But wanted to share our internal optimism. We now know, except for breaking the #virus open to expose its #RNA we should be able to do a #COVID19 test without a #PCR machine @yale and @Penn 3/

You will hear of LOTs of Home #Coronavirus tests. But they are based on #serological tests for YOUR Antibodies against the virus. This is important. But different from a Nucleic Acid Test (NATs DNA or RNA). NATs advantage is earlier detection & you see when infection is over. 4/

NATs for #COVID19 are Gold Standard for testing. While in short supply now, dozens of groups are producing them for clinical laboratories. That is great news. We want a test that can be done at home with immediate results. For broader testing. Or used at hospitals to triage. 5/

We have our greatest challenges ahead, but are motivated by our progress towards a simple, sensitive, scalable #COVID19 Home Test & our support. @Yale & @Penn are solving this with us. @Gatesfoundation coaching, and skilled #Volunteers making it possible [e-mail] 6/

Specifically we detect 10 copies of the #SARS_COV_2 #RNA (it’s genetics code) but haven’t done starting with virus particles, opening the outer shell, or #capsid, to expose RNA. We must crack this in way that anyone can do at home from spit or saliva & validate w/ @yale @penn 7/

Survey: How to package Home #Coronavirus Test. We still have MAJOR CHALLENGES ahead to make easy enough to test yourself & simple enough to quickly manufacture & scale-up. However, for speed, team needs to know now the one size you want tests to come in:

To get an at Home #Coronavirus Test 2 or more weeks earlier, save one step & make us confident we can do this, would you be ok with heating your sample collection tube in boiling water for 5 minutes (to crack open #Covid19 virus #capsid shell)?

Survey: For home #Coronavirus Test - spit, cheek or nasal swab, with #Covid19 w/ results in 30 minutes. Do we provide a foam float so you boil sample tube 5 minutes (cracks open #virus #capsid to expose its #RNA #genome) OR provide USB heater which adds cost & could delay launch.

Thank you @IndraNooyi for the guidance and help. Super recharge for us. No one motivates a team better or gives more clarity to a mission. #Coronavirus #COVID19 At Home Test. Make it simple, validate it, and scale fast. @yale @penn @gatesfoundation