Evaluation of a Rapid and Accessible Reverse Transcription-Quantitative PCR Approach for SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern Identification.

ABSTRACT: The ability to distinguish between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOCs) is of ongoing interest due to differences in transmissibility, responses to vaccination, clinical prognosis, and therapy. Although detailed genetic characterization requires whole-genome sequencing (WGS), targeted nucleic acid amplification tests can serve a complementary role in clinical settings, as they are more rapid and accessible than sequencing in most laboratories. We designed and analytically validated a two-reaction multiplex reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assay targeting spike protein mutations L452R, E484K, and N501Y in reaction 1 and del69-70, K417N, and T478K in reaction 2. This assay had 95 to 100% agreement with WGS for 502 upper respi

SUBMITTER: Yeung PS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9119066 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature