A Comparative Evaluation of Three Diagnostic Assays for the Detection of Human Monkeypox

• Published in: Viruses 2024-08, Vol.16 (8), p.1286
• Main Authors: Qu, Jing, Zhang, Xiaomin, Liu, Kun, Li, You, Wang, Ting, Fang, Zhonggang, Chen, Cheng, Tan, Xiao, Lin, Ying, Xu, Qing, Yang, Yan, Wang, Wanqing, Huang, Manyu, Guo, Shiliang, Chen, Ziqiu, Rao, Wei, Shi, Xiaolu, Peng, Bo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antigens; Antigens, Viral - analysis; Biochemical assays; Biomedical engineering; Cell culture; Chemiluminescence; chemiluminescence immunoassay; Comparative analysis; Diagnosis; diagnostics; Disease prevention; droplet digital PCR; Epidemics; Female; Genes; Human monkeypox; Humans; Immunization; Immunoassay; Immunology; Infections; Laboratories; Limit of Detection; Male; Middle Aged; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques - methods; monkeypox virus; Monkeypox virus - genetics; Monkeypox virus - isolation & purification; Mortality; Mpox; Mpox (monkeypox) - diagnosis; Mpox (monkeypox) - virology; Physiological aspects; Polymerase chain reaction; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic - standards; Reagents; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; real-time qPCR; Sensitivity and Specificity; Smallpox; Therapeutic applications; Viruses
• ISSN: 1999-4915; 1999-4915
• DOI: 10.3390/v16081286

Accurate and early diagnosis of monkeypox virus (MPXV) is crucial for controlling epidemics and treating affected individuals promptly. This study aimed to assess the analytical and clinical performance of the Molecision Monkeypox Virus qPCR Assay, Biorain Monkeypox Virus ddPCR Assay, and MAGLUMI Monkeypox Virus Ag (chemiluminescence immunoassay, CLIA) Assay. Additionally, it aimed to compare the clinical application of antigen and nucleic acid assays to offer insights into using commercial monkeypox assay kits. Specimens from 117 clinical patients, serial diluted virus cell culture supernatant, and artificially created positive samples were tested to evaluate the performance of these assay kits for MPXV diagnostics. The Biorain Monkeypox Virus ddPCR Assay had a limit of detection (LoD) of 3.89 CCID /mL, while the Molecision Monkeypox Virus qPCR Assay had an LoD of 15.55 CCID /mL. The MAGLUMI Monkeypox Virus Ag (CLIA) Assay had an LoD of 0.500 pg/mL. The accuracy of the Molecision Monkeypox Virus qPCR Assay was comparable to the Biorain Monkeypox Virus ddPCR Assay, and the MAGLUMI Monkeypox Virus Ag (CLIA) Assay demonstrated high sensitivity. The specificity of all three MPXV diagnostic assays for clinical specimens with potential cross-reacting substances was 100%. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the clinical application of monkeypox assays, supporting efforts to mitigate and control the spread of monkeypox.