RT-qPCR Diagnostics: The "Drosten" SARS-CoV-2 Assay Paradigm.

ABSTRACT: The reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is an established tool for the diagnosis of RNA pathogens. Its potential for automation has caused it to be used as a presence/absence diagnostic tool even when RNA quantification is not required. This technology has been pushed to the forefront of public awareness by the COVID-19 pandemic, as its global application has enabled rapid and analytically sensitive mass testing, with the first assays targeting three viral genes published within days of the publication of the SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequence. One of those, targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene, has been heavily criticised for supposed scientific flaws at the molecular and methodological level, and this criticism has been extrapolated to doubts about

SUBMITTER: Bustin S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8395416 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature