FURI | Spring 2022

An Inexpensive and Simple Optical Sensor System for Lab-Based Rapid Testing

With the uncertainty and high-risk nature of infectious diseases, rapid testing is needed to protect the community from an epidemic. A new antigen testing method using Gold Nano-Particles (AuNP) is used to detect viral concentration based on light absorbance of the samples. A system consisting of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and photodiodes has been used as an optoelectronic sensing device for single samples. The system optimizes the testing process by giving results instantly with great accuracy compared to existing lateral flow assay-based rapid testing systems or optics-based readout devices such as fluorescence or spectrometry. This FURI research focuses on studying the implementation of LED-photodiode-based electronic readout systems towards small yet rapid and accurate testing of an array of samples.