First CRISPR test for the coronavirus approved in the United States

First CRISPR test for the coronavirus approved in the United States

US approves first CRISPR coronavirus test

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency-use approval for a new coronavirus test that takes advantage of the gene-editing technology CRISPR. It works by programming CRISPR machinery, which can home in on certain genetic sequences, to detect a snippet of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material from a sample. The test can return results in about an hour, according to the company. Researchers say widespread use of the kit could help to alleviate backlogs and increase testing. It remains to be seen how well the test performs in real-world conditions, such as hospitals, compared with standard tests.

Nature | 3 min read