Amplification-free smartphone-based attomolar HBV detection

Classical gold standard HBV detection relies on expensive devices and complicated procedures, thus is always restricted in large-scale hospitals and centers for disease control and prevention. To extend HBV detection to primary clinics especially in underdeveloped areas, we design amplification-free smartphone-based attomolar HBV detecting technique based on single molecule sensing. Verified by synthesized HBV target DNA, this technique reaches a detection limit at attomolar concentration (100 aM); and verified by 110 clinical samples, it also reaches a rather high sensitivity of 104 copy/mL (≈2000 IU/mL) with a high accuracy of 93.64% certificated by gold standard HBV detecting devices. Besides, this technique can quantify HBV viral load in 70 min only using portable and inexpensive devices as well as simple operations. Because of its cost-effective, field-portable and operable design, highly sensitive and selective detecting capability and wireless data connectivity, this technique can be potentially used in mobile HBV diagnoses and share HBV epidemic information especially in resource limited situations. •Amplification-free smartphone-based attomolar HBV detection is designed.•This method reaches an extremely high sensitivity of 104 copy/mL (≈2000 IU/mL).•This method detects HBV in high accuracy of 93.64% proved by gold standard device.•This method quantifies HBV viral load in 70 min using simple devices and operations.•This method can be used in mobile HBV diagnostics in resource limited situations.