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In addition to its broad application in genome engineering and therapeutics, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology provides field-deployable methods for the highly sensitive and selective detection of nucleic acids. From a diagnostic perspective, CRISPR-based assays hold clear clinical potential for identifying a range of both infectious and non-communicable diseases. In this Perspective we evaluate recent nanotechnologies and nanomaterials that have been engineered to interface with CRISPR systems on a nanoscale level to realize the full potential of this versatile diagnostic tool. We assess biomolecules such as enzymes and oligonucleotides, some of the more commonly used synthetic nanoparticles and detection platforms that integrate nanotechnologies in new and innovative ways. We discuss current trends and look ahead to future challenges and opportunities, including non-nucleic acid target detection, pre-amplification-free detection of nucleic acids, the development of wearable devices and integration with artificial intelligence workflows.