Methods and devices for rapid detection of COVID-19 and other pathogens

A portable, reusable device for detection of one or more pathogens using a reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) process, the device comprising:

• a sample compartment contained within an interior of the device and having multiple apertures formed in a top surface, the multiple apertures aligned with exterior apertures formed on an exterior of the device, each of the apertures of the multiple apertures configured to releasably receive a bottom portion of a test tube containing a biological sample, and a top portion of the test tube is exposed to atmosphere when the bottom portion is received in the aperture;
• a heating source to increase a temperature of the sample compartment and the one or more biological samples to a predetermined temperature when the test tube is received in the aperture;
• and a power source for providing electrical power to the heating source;
• a temperature sensor capable of detecting the temperature of the one or more biological samples;
• and
• a controller connected to the heating source and the temperature sensor programmed to control an output of the heating source to maintain the temperatures of the sample compartment and the one or more biological samples after the one or more biological samples reach temperatures suitable for lysis and temperatures suitable for RT-LAMP,
• wherein the device has size and weight suitable to be handheld.