Sensitive detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 by multiplex droplet digital RT-PCR.
Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis
; 40(4): 807-813, 2021 Apr.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-891909
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to develop a one-step droplet digital RT-PCR (RT-ddPCR) multiplex assay that allows for sensitive quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA with respect to human-derived RNA and could be used for screening and monitoring of Covid-19 patients. A one-step RT-ddPCR multiplex assay was developed for simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV-2 E, RdRp and N viral RNA, and human Rpp30 DNA and GUSB mRNA, for internal nucleic acid (NA) extraction and RT-PCR control. Dilution series of viral RNA transcripts were prepared in water and total NA extract of Covid-19-negative patients. As reference assay, an E-GUSB duplex RT-PCR was used. GUSB mRNA detection was used to set validity criteria to assure viral RNA and RT-PCR assay quality and to enable quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. In a background of at least 100 GUSB mRNA copies, 5 copies of viral RNA are reliably detectable and 10 copies viral RNA copies are reliably quantifiable. It was found that assay sensitivity of the RT-ddPCR was not affected by the total NA background while assay sensitivity of the gold standard RT-PCR assay is drastically decreased when SARS-CoV-2 copies were detected in a background of total NA extract compared with water. The present study describes a robust and sensitive one-step ddRT-PCR multiplex assay for reliable quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. By determining the fractional abundance of viral RNA with respect to a human housekeeping gene, viral loads from different samples can be compared, what could be used to investigate the infectiveness and to monitor Covid-19 patients.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
DNA
/
RNA, Messenger
/
RNA, Viral
/
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
/
Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction
/
COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis
Journal subject:
Communicable Diseases
/
Microbiology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S10096-020-04076-3
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