Design of SARS-CoV-2 Variant-Specific PCR Assays Considering Regional and Temporal Characteristics.

ABSTRACT: Monitoring the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants is necessary to make informed public health decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic. PCR assays have received global attention, facilitating a rapid understanding of variant dynamics because they are more accessible and scalable than genome sequencing. However, as PCR assays target only a few mutations, their accuracy could be reduced when these mutations are not exclusive to the target variants. Here we introduce PRIMES, an algorithm that evaluates the sensitivity and specificity of SARS-CoV-2 variant-specific PCR assays across different geographical regions by incorporating sequences deposited in the GISAID database. Using PRIMES, we determined that the accuracy of several PCR assays decreased when applied beyond the geographic scope of the

SUBMITTER: Oh C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9004361 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature