Molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Córdoba, Argentina: evaluation of alternative diagnostic tools
Since its initial detection in Argentina in March 2020, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 has been exponential, producing a large number of clinical cases. The explosion of COVID-19 cases highlighted the critical role that diagnostic tests play in medical and public health decision-making to contain and...
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| Autores principales: | , , , , , , |
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| Formato: | Artículo revista |
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Universidad Nacional Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Secretaria de Ciencia y Tecnología
2022
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| Acceso en línea: | https://revistas.unc.edu.ar/index.php/med/article/view/39128 |
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| Sumario: | Since its initial detection in Argentina in March 2020, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 has been exponential, producing a large number of clinical cases. The explosion of COVID-19 cases highlighted the critical role that diagnostic tests play in medical and public health decision-making to contain and mitigate the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate and implement different assays for the molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2.
We evaluated 10 real time RT-PCR assays (Coronavirus “in house” CDC, LightMix® Modular SARS-CoV-2, GENESIG®, TaqMan™ 2019-nCoV Applied Biosystems, GeneFinderTM, VIASURE, Novel Coronavirus Anatolia, BGI, DisCoVery and WGene) analysing and comparing the following qualitative and quantitative parameters: target genes, internal control, single reaction/multiplex, sample volume, reagent yield, required equipment and reaction time. Besides, using internal panels of negative and positive samples with different concentrations of viral RNA, we evaluated 2 nucleic acid extraction methods [MagaBio plus Virus DNA/RNA Purification Kit II (BioFlux), 35-minute vs. 9-minute], a pre-analytical reagent (FlashPrep®) and 2 isothermal amplification tests (Neokit Plus and ELA CHEMSTRIP®).
Three real time RT-PCR assays were selected as optimal according to its characteristics and performance (use of IC, shorter reaction time, detection of at least 2 target genes, lower initial sample volume): DisCoVery > GeneFinderTM > WGene. The 2 RNA extraction methods showed similar good results: MagaBio plus Virus RNA Purification Kit II (BioFlux) 9-min was selected due to its faster performance. FlashPrep® reagent showed excellent results to perform direct RNA detection. Isothermal amplification assays showed acceptable sensibility and specificity values (>80%), except in samples with Ct>30.
The results show some of the best real-time RT-PCR kit options available in our country for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis. These alternative assays evaluated, proved to be acceptable for its use in adverse contexts, in the decentralization of diagnosis and in different epidemiological scenarios, for the rapid and accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2.
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