Point-of-care diagnostic platforms for loop-mediated isothermal amplification

Abstract

The loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method is one of the Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) that allows for the amplification of target regions without using a thermal cycle. With its unique primer design, LAMP ensures the rapid replication of the targeted DNA region with high specificity and high efficiency. LAMP technology is used for diagnostic purposes in pathogen detection due to its ease of use, low cost, and simplicity without requiring complex equipment. A wide range of LAMP diagnostic platforms have been developed for applications in bacteria, virus, and parasitic pathogen detection. Herein, the methodology of LAMP technology and its applications in pathogen detection and SNP genotyping and mutation detection are discussed. Point-of-care (PoC) LAMP platforms designed with the principles of microfluidic chip technology, including LAMP-on-a-chip, paper-based LAMP, and smartphone-based LAMP applications have been elaborated. LAMP technology represents a fast, robust, and reliable diagnostic platform for point-of-care testing.