Dataset on optimization and development of a point-of-care glucometer-based SARS-CoV2 detection assay by using aptamers

The paper presents the Supplementary Data of the published research work entitled “Hitting the diagnostic sweet spot: Point-of-care SARS-CoV-2 salivary antigen testing with an off-the-shelf glucometer” (Singh et al., 2021, Biosensor and Bioelectronics) . The assay is designed to be performed at home or a healthcare center without the requirements of expensive instruments or operational training. The virus is detected by an aptamer-based assay that specifically targets SARS CoV-2 Nucleocapsid (N) or Spike (S) proteins. The binding of N or S proteins by their respective aptamers results in the competitive release of a complementary antisense-invertase enzyme complex from the aptamers. The released enzyme then catalyzes the conversion of sucrose to glucose that is measured by a glucometer. The data presented here describe the optimization of the assay parameters and their contribution in the development of the aptamer-based assay for the detection of SARS CoV-2. The assay performance was checked in standard buffer, contrived, and real patient samples, and validated with well-established scientific methods. The resulting dataset can be used to further develop the glucometer-based point-of-care system for diagnosing other communicable and non-communicable diseases