scholarly journals Novel rapid identification of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by real-time RT-PCR using BD Max Open System in Taiwan

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cherng-Lih Perng ◽  
Ming-Jr Jian ◽  
Chih-Kai Chang ◽  
Jung-Chung Lin ◽  
Kuo-Ming Yeh ◽  
...  

Coronavirus disease 2019 has become a worldwide pandemic. By April 7, 2020, approximately 1,279,722 confirmed cases were reported worldwide including those in Asia, European Region, African Region and Region of the Americas. Rapid and accurate detection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is critical for patient care and implementing public health measures to control the spread of infection. In this study, we developed and validated a rapid total nucleic acid extraction method based on real‐time RT-PCR for reliable, high‐throughput identification of SARS-CoV-2 using the BD MAX platform. For clinical validation, 300 throat swab and 100 sputum clinical samples were examined by both the BD MAX platform and in-house real-time RT-PCR methods, which showed 100% concordant results. This BD MAX protocol is fully automated and the turnaround time from sample to results is approximately 2.5 h for 24 samples compared to 4.8 h by in-house real-time RT-PCR. Our developed BD MAX RT-PCR assay can accurately identify SARS-CoV-2 infection and shorten the turnaround time to increase the effectiveness of control and prevention measures for this emerging infectious disease.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chukwunonso Onyilagha ◽  
Henna Mistry ◽  
Peter Marszal ◽  
Mathieu Pinette ◽  
Darwyn Kobasa ◽  
...  

AbstractThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), calls for prompt and accurate diagnosis and rapid turnaround time for test results to limit transmission. Here, we evaluated two independent molecular assays, the Biomeme SARS-CoV-2 test, and the Precision Biomonitoring TripleLock SARS-CoV-2 test on a field-deployable point-of-care real-time PCR instrument, Franklin three9, in combination with Biomeme M1 Sample Prep Cartridge Kit for RNA 2.0 (M1) manual extraction system for rapid, specific, and sensitive detection of SARS-COV-2 in cell culture, human, and animal clinical samples. The Biomeme SARS-CoV-2 assay, which simultaneously detects two viral targets, the orf1ab and S genes, and the Precision Biomonitoring TripleLock SARS-CoV-2 assay that targets the 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR) and the envelope (E) gene of SARS-CoV-2 were highly sensitive and detected as low as 15 SARS-CoV-2 genome copies per reaction. In addition, the two assays were specific and showed no cross-reactivity with Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus, and other common human respiratory viruses and bacterial pathogens. Also, both assays were highly reproducible across different operators and instruments. When used to test animal samples, both assays equally detected SARS-CoV-2 genetic materials in the swabs from SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters. The M1 lysis buffer completely inactivated SARS-CoV-2 within 10 min at room temperature enabling safe handling of clinical samples. Collectively, these results show that the Biomeme and Precision Biomonitoring TripleLock SARS-CoV-2 mobile testing platforms could reliably and promptly detect SARS-CoV-2 in both human and animal clinical samples in approximately an hour and can be used in remote areas or health care settings not traditionally serviced by a microbiology laboratory.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (06) ◽  
pp. 8-13
Author(s):  
Phat X. Dinh

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most economically important diseases to swine industry worldwide. Due to the heterogeneity of field isolates, accurate detection of the PRRS virus is a diagnostic challenge. Recently, co-infection with NA-PRRSV, EU-PRRSV and HP-PRRSV isolates continuously increases in many countries, resulting in a significant impact on PRRSV diagnostics and disease control on farms. To facilitate rapid diagnosis and reliable discrimination of NA-PRRSV, EU-PRRSV and HP-PRRSV, a multiplex RT-PCR assay was established with three pairs of primers targeting highly conservative regions of nsp2 gene with predicted multiplex RT-PCR products of 364 bp, 161 bp and 259 bp, respectively. The primer pairs were optimized to be highly specific for PRRSV genotypes and were able to detect the target gene at the limit of 102 copies/μL for each gene. Clinical samples were used to evaluate this multiplex RT-PCR in parallel with a commercial real-time RT-PCR kit. Results showed over 95.2% (20/21 samples) agreement between the mRT-PCR and the real-time RT-PCR kit. Hence, it indicated that this multiplex RT-PCR could be useful for rapid and deferential diagnosis of NA-PRRSV, EU-PRRSV and HP-PRRSV in swine farms.


2014 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret M. Williams ◽  
Thomas H. Taylor ◽  
David M. Warshauer ◽  
Monte D. Martin ◽  
Ann M. Valley ◽  
...  

Real-time PCR (rt-PCR) is an important diagnostic tool for the identification ofBordetella pertussis,Bordetella holmesii, andBordetella parapertussis. Most U.S. public health laboratories (USPHLs) target IS481, present in 218 to 238 copies in theB. pertussisgenome and 32 to 65 copies inB. holmesii. The CDC developed a multitarget PCR assay to differentiateB. pertussis,B. holmesii, andB. parapertussisand provided protocols and training to 19 USPHLs. The 2012 performance exercise (PE) assessed the capability of USPHLs to detect these threeBordetellaspecies in clinical samples. Laboratories were recruited by the Wisconsin State Proficiency Testing program through the Association of Public Health Laboratories, in partnership with the CDC. Spring and fall PE panels contained 12 samples each of viableBordetellaand non-Bordetellaspecies in saline. Fifty and 53 USPHLs participated in the spring and fall PEs, respectively, using a variety of nucleic acid extraction methods, PCR platforms, and assays. Ninety-six percent and 94% of laboratories targeted IS481in spring and fall, respectively, in either singleplex or multiplex assays. In spring and fall, respectively, 72% and 79% of USPHLs differentiatedB. pertussisandB. holmesiiand 68% and 72% identifiedB. parapertussis. IS481cycle threshold (CT) values forB. pertussissamples had coefficients of variation (CV) ranging from 10% to 28%. Of the USPHLs that differentiatedB. pertussisandB. holmesii, sensitivity was 96% and specificity was 95% for the combined panels. The 2012 PE demonstrated increased harmonization of rt-PCRBordetelladiagnostic protocols in USPHLs compared to that of the previous survey.


2009 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
pp. 1168-1172 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.-N. Telles ◽  
K. Le Roux ◽  
P. Grivard ◽  
G. Vernet ◽  
A. Michault

The Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a member of the genus Alphavirus that is transmitted to humans by Aedes mosquitoes. In 2005 and 2006, the Indian Ocean island of La Réunion was hit with an unprecedented CHIKV fever outbreak that infected 300 000 people. In the present study, we describe the evaluation of real-time nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (RT-NASBA) for the detection of CHIKV in clinical samples. A co-extracted and co-amplified chimerical CHIKV RNA sequence was used as an internal control to eliminate false-negative results. The detection threshold of the assay was determined from quantified CHIKV-positive plasma, and estimated to be 200 copies per NASBA reaction. The specificity of the assay was determined using blast analyses and non-cross-reactivity using an O'nyong-nyong virus culture and 250 CHIKV RT-PCR-negative plasma samples. A 100 % specificity was found and no invalid result was obtained, showing the good quality of the nucleic acid extraction. The assay was then evaluated using 252 CHIKV-positive RT-PCR plasma samples. The samples were all tested positive, including those with low viral load. This evaluation showed that the RT-NASBA is a rapid (5 h from sample nucleic acid extraction to detection), sensitive, specific and reliable method for the routine diagnosis of CHIKV in clinical samples.


2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leo L M Poon ◽  
Kwok Hung Chan ◽  
On Kei Wong ◽  
Timothy K W Cheung ◽  
Iris Ng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: A novel coronavirus (CoV) was recently identified as the agent for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). We compared the abilities of conventional and real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assays to detect SARS CoV in clinical specimens. Methods: RNA samples isolated from nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA; n = 170) and stool (n = 44) were reverse-transcribed and tested by our in-house conventional RT-PCR assay. We selected 98 NPA and 37 stool samples collected at different times after the onset of disease and tested them in a real-time quantitative RT-PCR specific for the open reading frame (ORF) 1b region of SARS CoV. Detection rates for the conventional and real-time quantitative RT-PCR assays were compared. To investigate the nature of viral RNA molecules in these clinical samples, we determined copy numbers of ORF 1b and nucleocapsid (N) gene sequences of SARS CoV. Results: The quantitative real-time RT-PCR assay was more sensitive than the conventional RT-PCR assay for detecting SARS CoV in samples collected early in the course of the disease. Real-time assays targeted at the ORF 1b region and the N gene revealed that copy numbers of ORF 1b and N gene sequences in clinical samples were similar. Conclusions: NPA and stool samples can be used for early diagnosis of SARS. The real-time quantitative RT-PCR assay for SARS CoV is potentially useful for early detection of SARS CoV. Our results suggest that genomic RNA is the predominant viral RNA species in clinical samples.


2006 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herbert Tomaso ◽  
Holger C Scholz ◽  
Sascha Al Dahouk ◽  
Meike Eickhoff ◽  
Thomas M Treu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Burkholderia mallei is a potential biological agent that causes glanders or farcy in solipeds, a disease notifiable to the Office International des Epizooties (OIE). The number of reported outbreaks has increased steadily during the last decade, but diagnosis is hampered by the low bacterial load in infected tissues and excretions. Methods: We developed a B. mallei-specific 5′-nuclease real-time PCR assay that targets the fliP gene of B. mallei and includes an internal amplification control. Specificity was assessed with 19 B. mallei strains, 27 Burkholderia pseudomallei strains, other Burkholderia strains of 29 species, and clinically relevant non-Burkholderia organisms. Results: Amplification products were observed in all B. mallei strains but in no other bacteria. The linear range of the B. mallei real-time PCR covered concentrations from 240 pg to 70 fg of bacterial DNA/reaction. The detection limit was 60 fg of B. mallei DNA. The clinical applicability of the assay was demonstrated by use of organ samples from diseased horses of a recent outbreak that was reported to the OIE by the United Arab Emirates in 2004. Conclusions: Compared with conventional PCR, our rapid 5′-nuclease real-time PCR assay for the specific identification of B. mallei has a lower risk of carryover contamination and eliminates the need for post-PCR manipulations. This real-time PCR assay also shortens the turnaround time for results and has the potential for automation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S89-S91
Author(s):  
Brian L Harry ◽  
Yue Qiu ◽  
Ling Lu ◽  
Mara Couto-Rodriguez ◽  
Dorottya Nagy-Szakal ◽  
...  

Abstract Background SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) have challenged real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods for the diagnosis of COVID-19. Methods The CDC 2019-Novel Coronavirus real-time RT-PCR panel was modified to create a single-plex extraction-free proxy RT-PCR assay, VOCFast™. This assay uses the nucleocapsid N1 as well as novel primer/probe pairs to target VOC mutations in the Orf1a and spike (S) genes. For analytical validation of VOCFast, synthetic controls for the Wuhan, alpha/B.1.1.7, beta/B.1.351, and gamma/P.1 strains were tested at various concentrations. Clinical validation was performed using patient anterior nares swab and saliva specimens collected in the Denver, CO area between Nov 2020 and Feb 2021 or in March 2021. Orthogonal next-generation sequencing (NGS) was also performed. Results Similar N1 quantification cycle (Cq) values corresponding to viral load were observed for all strains, suggesting that VOC mutations do not affect performance of the N1 primer/probe. Orf1a-mut and S1-mut primer/probes generated a stable high Cq value for the Wuhan strain. Conversely, Orf1a-mut Cq values were inversely correlated with viral load for all VOC. The S1-mut Cq was inversely correlated with viral load of the alpha strain, but did not reliably amplify beta/gamma VOC. The limit of detection was 8 copies/uL. The first set of COVID-19 patient specimens revealed no amplification using Orf1a-mut whereas 53% of specimens collected in Mar 2021 demonstrated amplification by Orf-1a. Orthogonal testing by the SARS-CoV-2 NGS Assay and COVID-DX software demonstrated that 12/12 alpha strains, 2/2 beta/gamma strains, and 33/33 Wuhan strains were correctly identified by VOCFast. Detection of VOC in clinical specimens and validation by NGS Conclusion The combination of the N1, Orf1a-mut, and S1-mut primers/probes in VOCFast can distinguish the Wuhan, alpha, and beta/gamma strains and it consistent with NGS results. Testing of clinical samples revealed that VOC emerged in Denver, CO in March 2021. Future work to discriminate beta, gamma, and emerging VOC is ongoing. In summary, VOCFast is an extraction-free RT-PCR assay for nasal swab and saliva specimens that can identify VOC with a turnaround time suitable for clinical testing. Disclosures Brian L. Harry, MD PhD, Summit Biolabs Inc. (Grant/Research Support, Shareholder) Mara Couto-Rodriguez, MS, Biotia (Employee) Dorottya Nagy-Szakal, MD PhD, Biotia Inc (Employee, Shareholder) Niamh B. O’Hara, PhD, Biotia (Board Member, Employee, Shareholder) Shi-Long Lu, MD PhD, Summit Biolabs Inc. (Grant/Research Support, Shareholder)


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