scholarly journals Evaluation of AMPLILINK Software for the COBAS AMPLICOR System

1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 436-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald H. Kessler ◽  
Donald Jungkind ◽  
Evelyn Stelzl ◽  
Sue Direnzo ◽  
Srinivas K. Vellimedu ◽  
...  

The use of AMPLILINK version 1.0 software was evaluated for the operation and control of one COBAS AMPLICOR instrument and for two COBAS AMPLICOR instruments run simultaneously to perform and detect nucleic acid amplification reactions. A total of 3,384 results were analyzed. The initial accuracy of the results was 99.91%. Three errors of omission of transfer of data from the COBAS AMPLICOR to the AMPLILINK system were observed. Two of these errors were from a single specimen, where both the analyte and internal control results were not transmitted. These errors did not interfere with the correctness of any other data. There were no interruptions of runs, and no data were mixed. AMPLILINK increased convenience, saved labor, and was found to be a very useful addition for clinical laboratories performing molecular-diagnostic procedures with the COBAS AMPLICOR system.

2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 436-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Jensen Søe ◽  
Mikkel Rohde ◽  
Jens Mikkelsen ◽  
Peter Warthoe

BACKGROUND Nucleic acid tests that can simultaneously detect multiple targets with high sensitivity, specificity, and speed are highly desirable. To meet this need, we developed a new approach we call the isoPCR method. METHODS The isoPCR method is a 2-stage nested-like nucleic acid amplification method that combines a single multiplex preamplification PCR with subsequent distinct detection of specific targets by use of isothermal amplification. We compared isoPCR to nested quantitative PCR (qPCR), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and nested LAMP (PCR followed by LAMP), for detection of DNA from Candida glabrata. We evaluated the method's multiplex capability for detecting low copy numbers of pathogens commonly involved in sepsis. RESULTS IsoPCR provided detection of 1 copy of Candida glabrata, an LOD that was 5-fold lower than a nested qPCR assay (5 copies), while the amplification time was simultaneously halved. Similarly, the LOD for isoPCR was lower than that for a LAMP assay (1000 copies) and a nested LAMP assay (5 copies). IsoPCR required recognition of 6 regions for detection, thereby providing a theoretically higher specificity compared to nested qPCR (4 regions). The isoPCR multiplexing capability was demonstrated by simultaneous detection of 4 pathogens with individual LODs of 10 copies or fewer. Furthermore, the specificity of isoPCR was demonstrated by successful pathogen detection from samples with more than 1 pathogen present. CONCLUSIONS IsoPCR provides a molecular diagnostic tool for multiplex nucleic acid detection, with an LOD down to 1 copy, high theoretical specificity, and halving of the amplification time compared to a nested qPCR assay.


1996 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Leckie ◽  
J. Cao ◽  
Q. He ◽  
D. Kawa ◽  
D. Erickson ◽  
...  

1997 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Ieven ◽  
H Goossens

Clinical laboratories are increasingly receiving requests to perform nucleic acid amplification tests for the detection of a wide variety of infectious agents. In this paper, the efficiency of nucleic acid amplification techniques for the diagnosis of respiratory tract infections is reviewed. In general, these techniques should be applied only for the detection of microorganisms for which available diagnostic techniques are markedly insensitive or nonexistent or when turnaround times for existing tests (e.g., viral culture) are much longer than those expected with amplification. This is the case for rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, and hantaviruses causing a pulmonary syndrome, Bordetella pertussis, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Coxiella burnetii. For Legionella spp. and fungi, contamination originating from the environment is a limiting factor in interpretation of results, as is the difficulty in differentiating colonization and infection. Detection of these agents in urine or blood by amplification techniques remains to be evaluated. In the clinical setting, there is no need for molecular diagnostic tests for the diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii. At present, amplification methods for Mycobacterium tuberculosis cannot replace the classical diagnostic techniques, due to their lack of sensitivity and the absence of specific internal controls for the detection of inhibitors of the reaction. Also, the results of interlaboratory comparisons are unsatisfactory. Furthermore, isolates are needed for susceptibility studies. Additional work remains to be done on sample preparation methods, comparison between different amplification methods, and analysis of results. The techniques can be useful for the rapid identification of M. tuberculosis in particular circumstances, as well as the rapid detection of most rifampin-resistant isolates. The introduction of diagnostic amplification techniques into a clinical laboratory implies a level of proficiency for excluding false-positive and false-negative results.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Bender ◽  
Benjamin Sullivan ◽  
Jane Zhang ◽  
David Juergens ◽  
Lorraine Lillis ◽  
...  

<p>The number of people living with HIV continues to increase with the current total near 38 million, of which about 26 million are receiving antiretroviral therapy. These treatment regimens are highly effective when properly managed, requiring routine viral load monitoring to assess successful viral suppression. Efforts to expand access by decentralizing HIV nucleic acid testing in low- and middle-income countries has been hampered by the cost and complexity of current tests. Sample preparation of blood samples has traditionally relied on cumbersome RNA extraction methods, and it continues to be a key bottleneck for developing low-cost POC nucleic acid tests. We present a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (µPAD) for extracting RNA and detecting HIV in serum, leveraging low-cost materials, simple buffers, and an electric field. We detect HIV virions and MS2 bacteriophage internal control in human serum using a novel lysis and RNase inactivation method, paper-based isotachophoresis (ITP) for RNA extraction, and duplexed reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) for nucleic acid amplification. We design a specialized ITP system to extract and concentrate RNA, while excluding harsh reagents used for lysis and RNase inactivation. We found the ITP µPAD can extract and purify 5,000 HIV RNA copies per mL of serum. We then demonstrate detection of HIV virions and MS2 bacteriophage in human serum within 45-minutes.</p>


2005 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Willi K. Roth

AbstractEuropean manufacturers of plasma products and German blood transfusion services were the first to introduce nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) of blood products in the mid-1990s. Their primary goal was to increase the safety of blood by closing as far as possible the diagnostic window, which exists after the onset of viral infection until the appearance of the first detectable antibodies. Sample preparation, transport and storage are crucial steps in a quality-controlled PCR. Sensitivity and contamination rates highly depend on the sample preparation and storage techniques. Anticoagulants must be selected carefully because some may inhibit the PCR. Dilution of samples by pooling needs to be considered and should be compensated for by subsequent virus enrichment procedures, e.g. centrifugation. The whole process of sample preparation, pooling and virus enrichment must be validated and quality control measures must be implemented. Reagents for the extraction of viral nucleic acids should not pose any risk to the laboratory staff. Nevertheless, the reagents should be highly efficient in liberating viral nucleic acids at high yield and purity for the following amplification reactions. At this critical stage, quality control measures should guarantee an efficient extraction process and contain potential sources of contaminations. Several methods are available for the amplification of nucleic acids. PCR is the most common, especially in in-house assays. The amplification of nucleic acids should be performed as far as possible in a closed system, which may be guaranteed best by real-time PCR approaches. Reaction tubes need never be opened during the amplification because detection can be performed through the closed tube. Amplicons that could contaminate the following PCR reactions will not be released. It is of great importance to blood transfusion services to guarantee that negative results un-equivocally indicate virus negative blood donations. Therefore, internal control sequences should be implemented in each individual PCR reaction in order to monitor that the individual PCR has worked correctly. Besides internal control sequences, external negative and positive controls should be implemented in each PCR run to demonstrate false positive reactions as well as to monitor pre-PCR processes like virus enrichment and extraction. The whole process needs to be validated according to the criteria set in national guidelines or by national authorities. External quality assessment programs are highly recommended.


Author(s):  
Zahir Ali ◽  
Rashid Aman ◽  
Ahmed Mahas ◽  
Gundra Sivakrishna Rao ◽  
Muhammad Tehseen ◽  
...  

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 affects all aspects of human life. Detection platforms that are efficient, rapid, accurate, specific, sensitive, and user friendly are urgently needed to manage and control the spread of SARS-CoV-2. RT-qPCR based methods are the gold standard for SARS-CoV-2 detection. However, these methods require trained personnel, sophisticated infrastructure, and a long turnaround time, thereby limiting their usefulness. Reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP), a one-step nucleic acid amplification method conducted at a single temperature, has been used for colorimetric virus detection. CRISPR-Cas12 and CRISPR-Cas13 systems, which possess collateral activity against ssDNA and RNA, respectively, have also been harnessed for virus detection. Here, we built an efficient, rapid, specific, sensitive, user-friendly SARS-CoV-2 detection module that combines the robust virus amplification of RT-LAMP with the specific detection ability of SARS-CoV-2 by CRISPR-Cas12. Furthermore, we combined the RT-LAMP-CRISPR-Cas12 module with lateral flow cells to enable highly efficient point-of-care SARS-CoV-2 detection. Our iSCAN SARS-CoV-2 detection module, which exhibits the critical features of a robust molecular diagnostic device, should facilitate the effective management and control of COVID-19.


Author(s):  
Ali A. Rabaan ◽  
Shamsah H. Al-Ahmed ◽  
Ranjit Sah ◽  
Ruchi Tiwari ◽  
Mohd. Iqbal Yatoo ◽  
...  

A novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), causing an emerging coronavirus disease (COVID-19), first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China has resulted in an outbreak in China which has taken a catastrophic turn with high toll rates in China and subsequently spreading across the globe. The rapid spread of this virus to more than 175 countries while affecting nearly 500,000 persons and causing more than 22,000 human deaths, it has resulted in a pandemic situation in the world. The SARS-CoV-2 virus belongs to the genus Betacoronavirus, like MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV, all of which originated in bats. It is highly contagious, causing symptoms like fever, dyspnea, asthenia and pneumonia, thrombocytopenia and the severely infected patients succumb to the disease. Coronaviruses (CoVs) among all known RNA viruses have the largest genomes ranging from 26 to 32 kb in length. Extensive research has been conducted to understand the molecular basis of the SARS-CoV-2 infection and evolution, develop effective therapeutics, antiviral drugs and vaccines, and to design rapid and confirmatory viral diagnostics as well as adopt appropriate prevention and control strategies. Till date, no clinically proclaimed, proven therapeutic antibodies or specific drugs and therapeutics, and vaccines have turned up. Several molecular diagnostic tests such as Real Time-PCR, isothermal loop-mediated amplification of coronavirus (i-LACO), full genome analysis by next-generation sequencing (NGS), multiplex nucleic acid amplification, and microarray-based assays are in use currently for the laboratory confirmation of this CoV infection. In this review article, we describe the basic molecular organization and phylogenetic analysis of the coronaviruses, including the SARS-CoV-2, and recent advances in diagnosis and vaccine development in brief and focusing mainly on developing potential therapeutic options that can be explored to manage this pandemic virus infection, which would help in valid countering of COVID-19.


1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 3668-3671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julius Schachter ◽  
Edward W. Hook ◽  
William M. McCormack ◽  
Thomas C. Quinn ◽  
Max Chernesky ◽  
...  

The Digene Hybrid Capture II (HCII CT/GC) test is a combination test designed to detect Chlamydia trachomatis andNeisseria gonorrhoeae in a single specimen. It is a nucleic acid hybridization test which uses signal amplification to increase sensitivity. We compared its performance to that of culture on cervical specimens from 1,370 women. Direct fluorescent-antibody assay was used to resolve discrepant results for C. trachomatis. Samples were collected with a proprietary cervical brush or with endocervical swabs. The HCII CT/GC test proved to be sensitive and specific in detecting these organisms. Compared to N. gonorrhoeaeculture, it had a sensitivity of 93% (87/94) and a specificity of 98.5% (1,244/1,263). Compared to C. trachomatis culture, the sensitivity was 97.7% (129/132) and specificity was 98.2% (1,216/1,238). Testing of some specimens with discrepant results by PCR suggested that the test would actually prove to be even more specific if it were compared to a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). The sensitivity of C. trachomatis culture was somewhat less, at 88.6% (117/132). The endocervical brush appeared to be better than Dacron swabs for collecting specimens. The HCII CT/GC test offers an attractive format that allows simultaneous detection of C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae with a single specimen. An initial positive result is followed by repeat tests with probes to identify chlamydiae or gonococci. This test is more sensitive than C. trachomatis culture and is at least as sensitive as culture for gonococci. It deserves further evaluation and comparison with NAATs and may well offer an attractive alternative for diagnosis and screening of these infections.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Bender ◽  
Benjamin Sullivan ◽  
Jane Zhang ◽  
David Juergens ◽  
Lorraine Lillis ◽  
...  

<p>The number of people living with HIV continues to increase with the current total near 38 million, of which about 26 million are receiving antiretroviral therapy. These treatment regimens are highly effective when properly managed, requiring routine viral load monitoring to assess successful viral suppression. Efforts to expand access by decentralizing HIV nucleic acid testing in low- and middle-income countries has been hampered by the cost and complexity of current tests. Sample preparation of blood samples has traditionally relied on cumbersome RNA extraction methods, and it continues to be a key bottleneck for developing low-cost POC nucleic acid tests. We present a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (µPAD) for extracting RNA and detecting HIV in serum, leveraging low-cost materials, simple buffers, and an electric field. We detect HIV virions and MS2 bacteriophage internal control in human serum using a novel lysis and RNase inactivation method, paper-based isotachophoresis (ITP) for RNA extraction, and duplexed reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) for nucleic acid amplification. We design a specialized ITP system to extract and concentrate RNA, while excluding harsh reagents used for lysis and RNase inactivation. We found the ITP µPAD can extract and purify 5,000 HIV RNA copies per mL of serum. We then demonstrate detection of HIV virions and MS2 bacteriophage in human serum within 45-minutes.</p>


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