In a new study, the researchers show the test can detect the virus that causes COVID-19 with pinpoint accuracy, clearly distinguishing it from other infections. The research appears in the journal ACS Nano.

The new diagnostic device, called NasRED (Nanoparticle-Supported Rapid Electronic Detection), is simple and portable enough to be used almost anywhere—from remote rural clinics to busy urban hospitals. The tool provides lab-quality accuracy without expensive equipment and does not require specialized training, giving it the potential to become a public health game changer.

“We have the speed and ease of use of a rapid antigen test with sensitivity that’s even better than lab-based tests,” says Chao Wang, lead author of the new study. “This is very difficult to achieve.”