Inactivation and Recovery of High Quality RNA From Positive SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Tests Suitable for Whole Virus Genome Sequencing.

ABSTRACT: The diagnostic protocol currently used globally to identify Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is RT-qPCR. The spread of these infections and the epidemiological imperative to describe variation across the virus genome have highlighted the importance of sequencing. SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen diagnostic tests (RADTs) are designed to detect viral nucleocapsid protein with positive results suggestive of the presence of replicating virus and potential infectivity. In this study, we developed a protocol for recovering SARS-CoV-2 RNA from "spent" RADT devices of sufficient quality that can be used directly for whole virus genome sequencing. The experimental protocol included the spiking of RADTs at different concentrations with viable SARS-CoV-2 variant Alpha (l

SUBMITTER: Macori G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9113430 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature