A Comparative Study on the Efficiency of Commercial Reverse Transcriptase–Polymerase Chain Reaction Kits for the Detection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections

ABSTRACT

Background: Real?time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT?PCR) kits have been reliably employed for the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID?19) by the detection of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS?CoV?2) RNA since the beginning of the disease outbreak. In consideration of reliable diagnosis, apart from RT?PCR, the isothermal nucleic acid amplification?based point-of-care automated kits have also been tagged as a simpler and rapid alternative to the conventional techniques. Currently, the availability of a better diagnostic method for COVID?19 when compared to RT?PCR is nil. The most important step in the detection of SARS?CoV?2 in a RT?PCR diagnostic laboratory is to identify and employ RT?PCR kits with higher sensitivity as well as specificity. Objectives: This study aimed to study commercially available RT?PCR kits for the detection of SARS?CoV?2 infections. Methods: The performance of seven different RT-PCR kits from different manufacturers used for diagnosis of COVID-19 in Govt Theni Medical College and Hospital, Theni, Tamil Nadu were analysed. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected from patients and subjected to RT-PCR using these kits. Results and Conclusion: The sensitivities and batch effects of the assessed kits were slightly different for different targets, for SARS?CoV?2 detection in nasopharyngeal swab specimens. Examination of COVID-19 kits should be done using currently employed kits in routine diagnosis for better efficiency