Validation of a direct-to-PCR COVID-19 detection protocol utilizing mechanical homogenization: A model for reducing resources needed for accurate testing

Efficient and effective viral detection methodologies are a critical piece in the global response to COVID-19, with PCR-based nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab testing serving as the current gold standard. With over 100 million confirmed cases globally, the supply chains supporting these PCR tes...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2021-08, Vol.16 (8), p.e0256316-e0256316
Main Authors: Morehouse, Zachary P, Samikwa, Lyson, Proctor, Caleb M, Meleke, Harry, Kamdolozi, Mercy, Ryan, Gabriella L, Chaima, David, Ho, Antonia, Nash, Rodney J, Nyirenda, Tonney S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Asymptomatic
Biology and life sciences
Consent
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
COVID-19 - diagnosis
COVID-19 diagnostic tests
COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing - instrumentation
COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing - methods
Evaluation
Feasibility Studies
Homogenization
Humans
Medical laboratories
Medical schools
Medical tests
Medicine
Medicine and Health Sciences
Methods
Nasopharynx - virology
Oropharynx - virology
Pandemics
Pathology
Patients
People and Places
Polymerase chain reaction
Prospective Studies
Public health
Reagents
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Research and Analysis Methods
RNA, Viral - genetics
SARS-CoV-2 - genetics
SARS-CoV-2 - isolation & purification
Sensitivity and Specificity
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Specimen Handling - instrumentation
Supply chains
Workflow
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Efficient and effective viral detection methodologies are a critical piece in the global response to COVID-19, with PCR-based nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab testing serving as the current gold standard. With over 100 million confirmed cases globally, the supply chains supporting these PCR testing efforts are under a tremendous amount of stress, driving the need for innovative and accurate diagnostic solutions. Herein, the utility of a direct-to-PCR method of SARS-CoV-2 detection grounded in mechanical homogenization is examined for reducing resources needed for testing while maintaining a comparable sensitivity to the current gold standard workflow of nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab testing. In a head-to-head comparison of 30 patient samples, this initial clinical validation study of the proposed homogenization-based workflow demonstrated significant agreeability with the current extraction-based method utilized while cutting the total resources needed in half.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0256316