Extraction-Free Testing for SARS-CoV-2 in Nasal Swab and Saliva Samples on a Single High-Throughput Platform.
Yue QiuLing LuAmanda HalvenRachel TerrioSydney YuldelsonNatalie DougalFilippo GalboAndrew LuDexiang GaoBob BlomquistJose P ZevallosShi-Long LuXin YaoBrian L HarryPublished in: Journal of biotechnology and biomedicine (2024)
The COVID-19 pandemic introduced an urgent need for rapid and high-throughput testing for SARS-CoV-2. RNA extraction is a major bottleneck for RT-qPCR. We describe a semi-automated, extraction-free RT-qPCR assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasal swab and saliva samples on a single platform. With a limit of detection of 4 copies/mL, this laboratory developed test performed equivalently to established methods requiring nucleic acid extraction. Five technologists staffing two shifts per day (80 person-hours) processed more than 400,000 samples over 10 months. Patients opted to provide nasal swab samples (83.6%) more frequently than saliva (16.4%), creating the added challenge of producing swab collection kits. Real-world testing data indicated a higher frequency of SARS-CoV-2 detection in saliva (10.1%) compared to nasal swab (7.7%). This cost-effective and quickly scalable approach is suitable for pandemic preparedness planning related to surveillance and diagnostic testing.
Keyphrases
- sars cov
- high throughput
- loop mediated isothermal amplification
- nucleic acid
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- chronic rhinosinusitis
- single cell
- end stage renal disease
- public health
- real time pcr
- label free
- newly diagnosed
- chronic kidney disease
- ejection fraction
- machine learning
- coronavirus disease
- peritoneal dialysis
- deep learning