Biosensor Strategies for Rapid African Swine Fever Virus Detection

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide African swine fever (ASF) is a lethal, highly contagious disease that severely threatens global pig populations and the pork industry. Conventional diagnostics based on virus isolation, ELISA, or quantitative PCR are accurate but require specialized laboratories and hours to days of turnaround, creating a demand for pen-side alternatives. Biosensors address this need, yet ASF virus (ASFV) devices remain at an early stage, with limited field validation and few standardized protocols. This review analyzed forty-one ASFV biosensors reported between 2014 and 2025, grouping them by biological receptor (antibody, enzyme, or nucleic acid) and by transduction mechanism (optical, mass-based, or electrochemical). Reported limits of detection extend from five copies per microliter for a CRISPR–Cas12a fluorescence assay 1 to 0.5 ng mL –1 for a piezoelectric cantilever antigen sensor, 2 with assay times ranging from 5 to 45 min. This review examined the sensitivity, specificity, and assay times, highlighting persistent deficits in cross-reactivity analyses and environmental stress testing. Result of the analysis underscores an urgent need for harmonized testing conditions and robust comparative studies to bridge the gap between proof-of-concept demonstrations and commercially viable products. By contrast of current ASFV biosensor research with more advanced platforms targeting other viral pathogens, practical design strategies and future directions to enhance accuracy, scalability, and cost-effectiveness were identified. Ultimately, this Perspective provides a roadmap for advancing ASFV biosensor technology to mitigate outbreaks more effectively and safeguard global pork production.