Ultralow-cost personal PCRstrip with volumetric heating based on broadband absorption plasmonic fabric for POCT of pathogens

The diagnosis of respiratory viral infection via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is typically conducted in centralized laboratories using bulky equipment costing 1–2 h. To prevent the spread of infectious diseases, there is an urgent need for ultrafast and accessible molecular diagnostic tools for point-of-care testing (POCT). Here, we developed an ultrafast, POC molecular diagnostic PCRstrip capable of detecting influenza A RNA with high sensitivity (1 copy/µL) in just 15 min. Our system integrated reverse transcription, rapid thermocycling and visual detection at ultralow cost. Broadband absorption plasmonic fabric (BAPF) with excellent photothermal effect was fabricated for volumetric photothermal heating excited by a cost-effective white LED. After photothermal PCR, amplification products can be visually detected by a lateral flow paper strip. Clinical validation of 80 nasopharyngeal swab samples collected from patients suspected of influenza A infection demonstrated a clinical sensitivity of 98.4% and specificity of 94.7%. This fast, ultralow-cost and reliable molecular diagnosis strategy is conducive to POCT, offering an effective tool for non-trained personnel to detect and control infectious diseases individually.