Researchers from the Vienna BioCenter and University of Ghana developed a freeze-dried, open-source reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for SARS-CoV-2 detection, optimized for resource-limited settings. Utilizing non-proprietary enzymes and requiring minimal equipment, the assay demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in validation studies across Austria and Ghana, with stable performance after ambient shipping. The low per-test reagent cost (approximately $0.30) and lack of refrigeration requirements position this assay as an accessible molecular diagnostic tool for outbreak surveillance and pathogen detection in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).