CRISPR-based diagnostics are poised to make an early debut amid COVID-19 outbreak

CRISPR could see its first direct application to human health much earlier than expected as the COVID-19 outbreak accelerates development timelines for CRISPR-based diagnostics.

Diagnostic testing for COVID-19 is currently conducted with real-time PCR tests that need to be run in centralized labs. Capacity and speed of readout are highly limited. While China has rushed ahead to produce and distribute PCR-based tests, doubts have been raised about the level of clinical validation (see “Plotting a Scientific Path to Counter COVID-19”)...