Having tests that can quickly and accurately detect SARS-CoV-2 is of utmost  importance now that sports leagues are starting up again and parents are considering sending their children to school. 

Now, scientists from the Broad Institute at MIT have harnessed  the power of the versatile CRISPR system to rapidly and accurately detect the genetic material of the virus on the spot, without  sophisticated equipment of a research clinical lab. This is a major breakthrough, because it means that testing now can be deployed at far-reaching places miles away from medical infrastructure. 

This paper (currently posted as a pre-print) showcases the new test, which is aptly named STOPCovid. Upon contact with a sample, the CRISPR system searches for the genetic material of the virus. If present, it gets activated and runs rampant, snipping up RNA molecules. Once the RNAs are chopped up, they undergo a chemical reaction and give distinguishable signal on a strip of paper in just 40-70 minutes. 

Both the sensitivity and specificity of this test are very high and this is a crucial weapon in our arsenal against this virus. Time to test, test, test!