Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 indirect and direct RT-qPCR detection methods.
Joel D PearsonDaniel TrckaSuying LuSharon J HydukMark JenMarie-Ming AynaudJ Javier HernándezPhilippos PeidisMiriam Barrios-RodilesKin ChanJim WoodgettTony MazzulliLiliana AttisanoLaurence PelletierMyron I CybulskyJeffrey L WranaRod BremnerPublished in: Virology journal (2021)
With extracted RNA, the BGI RT-qPCR detection system exhibited superior performance over the Norgen system, matching initial clinical diagnosis with the Seegene Allplex assay. The BGI system was also suitable for direct, extraction-free analysis, providing 78.4% sensitivity. The Norgen system, however, still accurately detected samples with a clinical Ct < 33 from extracted RNA, provided significant cost savings, and was superior to SYBR green assays that exhibited reduced specificity.