Production and use of encapsidated RNA mimics as positive control reagents for SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR diagnostics.

ABSTRACT: The current gold standard technique for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics is hydrolysis probe-based RT-qPCR. Reliable testing requires reliable control reagents to monitor the efficiency of RNA extraction, reverse transcription and PCR amplification. Here we describe a custom RNA packaging system from the plant virus cowpea mosaic virus to produce virus-like particles that encapsidate specifically designed portions of the genome of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. These encapsidated mimics are highly stable particles which can be used either to spike patient swab samples for use as an in-tube extraction and reaction positive control in multiplex RT-qPCR, or alone as a side-by-side mock-positive control reagent. The selection of sequences in the packaged pseudogenomes ensures that these mi

SUBMITTER: Peyret H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8611828 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature