Rapid establishment of laboratory diagnostics for the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in Bavaria, Germany, February 2020

Abstract

The need for timely establishment of diagnostic assays arose when Germany was confronted with the first travel-associated outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Europe. We describe our laboratory experiences during a large contact tracing investigation, comparing previously published real-time RT-PCR assays in different PCR systems and a commercial kit. We found that assay performance using the same primers and probes with different PCR systems varied and the commercial kit performed well.

Keywords: COVID-19; Corona Virus; Infectious disease; Laboratory Diagnostics; Molecular Testing; Real-Time PCR; SARS-CoV-2; outbreaks.

Figure 1

Cumulative numbers of suspected COVID-19 samples tested during week 5 and 6 2020, Bavaria (n = 675)

Figure 2

Example image of real-time RT-PCR curves of the E gene assay with unspecific signals at late cycles, Bavaria, February 2020

Figure 3

Flowchart and routine timeline of the SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic workflow at the LGL, Bavaria, February 2020