ABSTRACT
Since the Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, several SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (SARS-CoV-2 VOC) have been reported. The B.1.1.7 variant has been associated with increased mortality and transmission risk. Furthermore, cluster and possible co-infection cases could occur in the next influenza season or COVID-19 pandemic wave, warranting efficient diagnosis and treatment decision making. Here, we aimed to detect SARS-CoV-2 and other common respiratory viruses using multiplex RT-PCR developed on the LabTurbo AIO 48 open system. We performed a multicenter study to evaluate the performance and analytical sensitivity of the LabTurbo AIO 48 system for SARS-CoV-2, influenza A/B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) using 652 nasopharyngeal swab clinical samples from patients. The LabTurbo AIO 48 system demonstrated a sensitivity of 9.4 copies/per PCR for N2 of SARS-CoV-2; 24 copies/per PCR for M of influenza A and B; and 24 copies/per PCR for N of RSV. The assay presented consistent performance in the multicenter study. The multiplex RT-PCR applied on the LabTurbo AIO 48 open platform provided highly sensitive, robust, and accurate results and enabled high-throughput detection of B.1.1.7, influenza A/B, and RSV with short turnaround times. Therefore, this automated molecular diagnostic assay could enable streamlined testing if COVID-19 becomes a seasonal disease.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing/methods , COVID-19/diagnosis , Influenza, Human/diagnosis , Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , COVID-19/virology , Female , Humans , Influenza A virus/genetics , Influenza A virus/isolation & purification , Influenza, Human/virology , Influenzavirus B/genetics , Influenzavirus B/isolation & purification , Male , Middle Aged , Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/virology , Respiratory Syncytial Viruses/genetics , Respiratory Syncytial Viruses/isolation & purification , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification , Sensitivity and Specificity , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to find the distributions of pathogens in 164 suspected COVID-19 patients from the outpatient clinic of Shenjing Hospital of China Medical University from 24th January, 2020, to 29th February of 2020. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 164 COVID-19 suspected patients were from the Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University. Oropharyngeal swab specimens were acquired by respiratory doctors under standardized conditions. Specific nucleic acids of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and B, respiratory syncytial virus A and B, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, along with pneumonic mycoplasma were detected by real-time fluorescence PCR. Symptomatic, epidemiologic, laboratory and radiological data of the patients were obtained from the electronic medical record system of our hospital. RESULTS: Among the 164 patients, 3 were positive for SARS-CoV-2, 15 were positive for other respiratory viruses and 16 were positive for pneumonic mycoplasma. Of the positive patients above, 1 patient was co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 and adenovirus, and 1 was co-infected with influenza B and pneumonic mycoplasma. The 3 SARS-CoV-2 infected patients were clinically diagnosed as COVID-19 because they meet the diagnostic criteria listed in "Chinese Clinical Guidance for COVID-19 Pneumonia diagnosis and treatment", including epidemic history, symptom and pathogenic detection, as well as abnormalities of the laboratory and radiological data. However, the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients were non-specific compared to those of the patients infected with other respiratory viruses. CONCLUSIONS: The endemic common respiratory pathogens are more prevalent than SARS-CoV-2 in the SARS-CoV-2 non-epidemic areas of this research. Detection of the pathogen is the unique means for definite COVID-19 diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/pathology , Pneumonia, Viral/pathology , Adenoviridae/genetics , Adenoviridae/isolation & purification , Betacoronavirus/genetics , Betacoronavirus/isolation & purification , COVID-19 , China/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/virology , Humans , Influenza A virus/genetics , Influenza A virus/isolation & purification , Influenzavirus B/genetics , Influenzavirus B/isolation & purification , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Viral/virology , RNA, Viral/metabolism , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , SARS-CoV-2 , Thorax/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
In the setting of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, only few data regarding lung pathology induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is available, especially without medical intervention interfering with the natural evolution of the disease. We present here the first case of forensic autopsy of a COVID-19 fatality occurring in a young woman, in the community. Diagnosis was made at necropsy and lung histology showed diffuse alveolar damage, edema, and interstitial pneumonia with a geographically heterogeneous pattern, mostly affecting the central part of the lungs. This death related to COVID-19 pathology highlights the heterogeneity and severity of central lung lesions after natural evolution of the disease.