Direct Whole-Blood PCR for Molecular Diagnostics

An extraction-free qPCR and RT-qPCR workflow detects hepatitis B virus DNA at 10 copies/uL and multiple viral RNA targets at 100 copies/uL directly in whole blood.

• Why it matters: Rapid molecular testing is needed for outbreaks, but standard PCR workflows require sample processing that can hinder testing in remote settings.
• What they did: The approach uses 2 uL whole-blood reactions with blood-compatible amplification chemistry, RNase inhibition for RNA, and longer-wavelength fluorescence to reduce biochemical and optical interference.
• The result: In spiked blood, a portable instrument produced Bundibugyo results with less than two minutes of hands-on preparation and within one hour, supporting analytical feasibility and motivating validation in intact viruses and clinical specimens.

AI summary of the abstract · may contain errors · not medical advice · read the paper.