  In winter of 2020, SARS-CoV-2 emerged as a global threat, impacting not only
health but also financial and political stability. To address the societal need
for monitoring the spread of SARS-CoV-2, many existing diagnostic technologies
were quickly adapted to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antigens as well as the
immune response and new testing strategies were developed to accelerate
time-to-decision. In parallel, the infusion of research support accelerated the
development of new spectroscopic methods. While these methods have
significantly reduced the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on society when coupled with
behavioral changes, they also lay the groundwork for a new generation of
platform technologies. With several epidemics on the horizon, such as the rise
of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the ability to quickly pivot the target
pathogen of this diagnostic toolset will continue to have an impact.
