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Comparative Study
. 2021 Jul:293:114165.
doi: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2021.114165. Epub 2021 Apr 16.

Comparison of four PCR and two point of care assays used in the laboratory detection of SARS-CoV-2

Bence Kenyeres  1 , Noel Ánosi  1 , Krisztián Bányai  2 , Mária Mátyus  3 , László Orosz  4 , Andrea Kiss  3 , Beatrix Kele  5 , Katalin Burián  4 , György Lengyel  6
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Comparison of four PCR and two point of care assays used in the laboratory detection of SARS-CoV-2

Bence Kenyeres et al. J Virol Methods. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

Seeing the global emergence and the lack of a definitive cure for COVID-19, it is essential to find the most sensitive and specific detection method to identify infected patients in a timely manner. Our paper aims to compare the clinical sensitivity of different commercial RT-qPCR (Genesig, 1copy, DNA-Techonolgy and Charité primer-probe sets), isothermal PCR (Ustar Isothermal Amplification-Real Time Fluorescent Assay) and immunochromatographic antigen detection (BIOCREDIT COVID-19 Ag) assays developed to use in laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19. A total of 119 nasopharyngeal swab specimens were collected from symptomatic patients. A subset of samples, positive with two RT-qPCR assays were then tested with isothermal PCR and rapid antigen tests. Of the 119 specimens, 65 were positive by at least two PCR assays. All PCR assays showed substantial or perfect match, although some variations in the clinical performance was observed. Of the 37 and 32 remnant nasopharyngeal samples positive by RT-qPCR, respectively, three were positive by the BIOCREDIT COVID-19 Ag and 14 were detected by the isothermal amplification assay. In conclusion, in the clinical settings we recorded that each of the RT-qPCR assays was superior to other test formats, in particular, the routine use of the DNA-technology assay is recommended. Although alternative recommendations exist, we belive that the use of isothermal amplifiaction assays and antigen rapid tests for COVID-19 diagnosis can only serve as adjuncts while awaiting the PCR result because of their high false-negative rate.

Keywords: COVID-19; Laboratory diagnostics; RT-qPCR; SARS CoV-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Heatmap of Ct values by PCR assay. Of the 119 nasopharyngeal samples, 65 were positive by at least two PCR assays. The diagram shows the Ct values of the screened genes by the different RT-qPCR assays. Black bars represent undeterminable Ct values. Five results of DNA technology, four results of 1copy and 21 results of Charité were considered marginal.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Number of positive samples with each kit, depicted on a Venn-diagram.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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