Box of 100 ART™ (Aerosol Resistant Tips) barrier and non-filtered pipette tips, made by Thermo Scientific, used with the SAMBA II SARS-CoV-2 test, 2020

Pipette tips are used for many testing and laboratory procedures. These examples, using during SAMBA® II COVID-19 test have a self-sealing barrier which helps stop contamination of samples.

After a nose and throat swab is taken is transported in a solution which kills the virus very quickly. This means that a laboratory set up or bio-safety cabinet is not needed. Samples are taken from the transport tube into a smaller sample tube using a pipette and pipette tip. Once the sample is loaded into the SAMBA® II machine, the remainder of the process is fully automated. Uniquely shaped cartridges contain the reagents necessary for testing. Results are given in two ways – from a visual result using one or three lines – like some pregnancy tests and via a Bluetooth connected device. An integrated camera ensures consistent and accurate results.

Launched in 2014, the SAMBA® II is designed to be used at the point of care – bringing rapid results to people, particularly in the Global South. Originally designed for quick, easy, and reliable HIV and hepatitis C testing are also available. Dr Lee, the inventor of SAMBA® II and her team at Diagnostics for the Real World developed at COVID-19 test in under three months as a response to the global pandemic.