Diagnostic testing today forces a difficult choice between accuracy, speed, and cost. While PCR tests are highly accurate, they require expensive equipment and trained personnel, often taking days for results. Rapid antigen tests are quick and cheap but less reliable, especially for asymptomatic cases. This gap creates real problems—delayed treatments, unnecessary antibiotic use, and poor disease control, particularly in low-resource areas. A solution that combines PCR-level accuracy with the simplicity and affordability of rapid tests could transform healthcare delivery.

How It Could Work

One approach would be to create disposable molecular tests that work like pregnancy tests—simple, equipment-free, and visually readable in 15-30 minutes. The key innovations would involve:

• Room-temperature nucleic acid amplification (avoiding the need for PCR machines)
• Simplified sample preparation (possibly using paper-based methods)
• Highly sensitive detection chemistry that gives clear visual results

For example, a strep throat test could involve swabbing the throat, mixing with a provided solution, and dripping it onto a test strip—no lab or electricity required. The test could cost under $1 to produce at scale while matching PCR accuracy.

Why It Matters

This could benefit:

• Low-resource clinics: Accurate diagnostics without expensive lab setups
• Public health: Better disease tracking and outbreak control
• Patients: Reliable at-home testing for timely treatment

Unlike existing options—like $8,000 molecular testing machines or less accurate $10 antigen tests—this approach could deliver lab-quality results anywhere, affordably. Early versions might focus on common infections (flu, strep) before expanding to more complex targets.

Making It Happen

An execution path might start with proving the core technology works for one disease, then refining it for mass production. Regulatory approval would follow, initially targeting markets where rapid tests already exist (demonstrating clear superiority). Potential revenue could come from bulk health system purchases, consumer sales, or licensing to diagnostic companies.

The main hurdles would be maintaining test stability without refrigeration and achieving sufficient sensitivity without equipment—but advances in lyophilized reagents and isothermal amplification methods could address these. If successful, it could make accurate diagnostics as accessible as a band-aid.