A new protocol detects RNA viruses such as Zika and hepatitis C directly from whole blood without purification, using heat-based processing, RNA amplification, and a portable fluorescence reader.

The COVID-19 pandemic yielded important advances in testing for respiratory viruses, but it also exposed important unmet needs in screening to prevent the spread of infections in high-risk settings.

From Zika testing to seven viruses The researchers, both members of UF's Emerging Pathogens Institute, first applied the virus testing design in 2019 to answer the call for a rapid, point-of-care test ...