Shared Mutations in Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Circulating Variants May Lead to Reverse Transcription-PCR (RT-PCR)-Based Misidentification of B.1.351 and P.1 Variants of Concern

Reverse transcription-PCRs (RT-PCRs) targeting SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern (VOC) mutations have been developed to simplify their tracking. We evaluated an assay targeting E484K/N501Y to identify B.1.351/P1. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) confirmed only 72 (59.02%) of 122 consecutive RT-PCR P. 1/B.1.351 candidates. Prescreening RT-PCRs must target a wider set of mutations, updated from WGS data from emerging variants.

Automated summary

The study suggests that prescreening RT-PCRs should target a wider set of mutations, instead of single mutations, for improved accuracy in detection.