# FeverPhone: Point of Care Diagnosis of Acute Febrile Illness using a Mobile Device

> **NIH NIH R01** · CORNELL UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $377,992

## Abstract

Project Summary
In this work, we will develop “RAPID COVIDX”, a rapid screening technology for COVID-19 based on
simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen (Ag) and antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 virus (IgG/IgM) in human
blood and/or nasal/throat swab specimens within 15 minutes at the point of care (POC). This will leverage the
NIH-funded FeverPhone platform, which we have already shown capable of rapidly quantifying both antigens
and antibodies at the POC for several infections, including malaria (pLDH and HRP2) and dengue/chikungunya
virus infection (IgG/IgM). The "RAPID COVIDx" technology builds on our team's extensive background in the
development of smartphone-based diagnostics, infectious disease, and global health. The technical effort of this
program comprises of the development of in vitro immunochromatographic one-step assay to simultaneously
detect SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG/IgM antibodies and antigens, a low-cost portable test strip reader for imaging
the test strips, and a mobile app to provide step-by-step instructions to the user. By the end of this project, we
will have developed a “sample-in, answer-out” working prototype that will be ready for further validation with
archived serum samples and for testing deployment readiness in POC settings. Serological tests such as the
one proposed are going to be increasingly needed with the spread of the pandemic to both identify those with
infection but also those with past exposure. Further, this will be critical to determine those who can return to work
and those who are vulnerable and direct limited resources. Key assets of our platform include minimal needs for
infrastructure, training, and sample volume. Additionally, the same platform works for multiple diseases/infections
and can be commercialized at very low price points for both the reader and test strips. Last but not least, the PIs
also have started a company commercializing similar technology for nutritional tests; there is capacity invested
by the New York State and the Department of Defense at this startup to scale up manufacturing of these tests
and are also familiar with the licensing process to engage other partners for rapid commercialization.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10147572
- **Project number:** 3R01EB021331-04S2
- **Recipient organization:** CORNELL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** David Carl Erickson
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $377,992
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-06-10 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10147572

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10147572, FeverPhone: Point of Care Diagnosis of Acute Febrile Illness using a Mobile Device (3R01EB021331-04S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10147572. Licensed CC0.

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