Forensic evaluation of two nucleic acid extraction systems and validation of a RT-qPCR protocol for identification of SARS-CoV-2 in post-mortem nasopharyngeal swabs

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 outbreak has represented a challenge for the international scientific community and particularly for forensic sciences. The lack of Coronavirus post-mortem testing led the National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences (INTCF) from Spain to verify the performance and utility of a quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) clinical diagnosis protocol for SARS-CoV-2 detection (TaqPath™ COVID-19 CE-IVD RT-PCR Kit), to shed light on the cause of death (COD) in potentially COVID-19 cases in judicial autopsies. Two different RNA extraction methods were also tested (EZ1® DSP Virus Kit on the EZ1® Advanced XL robot versus MagMAX™ Viral/Pathogen Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit) regarding extraction efficiency, precision and contamination. RT-qPCR was evaluated for precision, s

SUBMITTER: Barrio P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8016541 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature