A highly effective reverse-transcription loop-mediate d isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for the rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection

The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the importance of simple, rapid and accurate diagnostic testing. This study describes the validation of a new rapid SARS-CoV-2 RT-LAMP assay for use on extracted RNA or directly from swab offering an alternative diagnostic pathway that does not rely on traditional reagents that are often in short supply during a pandemic. Analytical specificity (ASp) of this new RT-LAMP assay was 100% and analytical sensitivity (ASe) was between 1 x10(1) and 1 x10(2) copies per reaction when using a synthetic DNA target. The overall diagnostic sensitivity (DSe) and specificity (DSp) of RNA RT-LAMP was 97% and 99% respectively, relative to the standard of care rRT-PCR. When a C T cut-offof 33 was employed, above which increasingly evidence suggests there is a low risk of patients shedding infectious virus, the diagnostic sensitivity was 100%. The DSe and DSp of Direct RT-LAMP (that does not require RNA extraction) was 67% and 97%, respectively. When setting C-T cut-offs of <= 33 and <= 25, the DSe increased to 75% and 100%, respectively, time from swab-to-result, C-T < 25, was < 15 min. We propose that RNA RT-LAMP could replace rRT-PCR where there is a need for increased sample throughput and Direct RT-LAMP as a near-patient screening tool to rapidly identify highly contagious individuals within emergency departments and care homes during times of increased disease prevalence ensuring negative results still get laboratory confirmation. Crown Copyright (C) 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The British Infection Association. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The importance of simple, rapid, and accurate diagnostic testing has been emphasized during the COVID-19 pandemic. A new rapid SARS-CoV-2 RT-LAMP assay has been validated, showing potential for increased sample throughput and rapid screening of highly contagious individuals.