A comparative study on the efficiency of commercial reverse transcriptase-Polymerase chain reaction kits for the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections

Background: Real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) kits have been reliably employed for the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the detection of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA since the beginning of the disease outbreak. In consideration of reliable diagnosis, apart from RT-PCR, the isothermal nucleic acid amplification-based point-of-care automated kits have also been tagged as a simpler and rapid alternative to the conventional techniques. Currently, the availability of a better diagnostic method for COVID-19 when compared to RT-PCR is nil. The most important step in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in a RT-PCR diagnostic laboratory is to identify and employ RT-PCR kits with higher sensitivity as well as specificity. Objectives: This study aimed to study commercially available RT-PCR kits for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Methods: The performance of seven different RT-PCR kits from different manufacturers used for diagnosis of COVID-19 in Govt Theni Medical College and Hospital, Theni, Tamil Nadu were analysed. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected from patients and subjected to RT-PCR using these kits. Results and Conclusion: The sensitivities and batch effects of the assessed kits were slightly different for different targets, for SARS-CoV-2 detection in nasopharyngeal swab specimens. Examination of COVID-19 kits should be done using currently employed kits in routine diagnosis for better efficiency.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate commercially available RT-PCR kits for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infections. The performance of seven different RT-PCR kits was analyzed, and it was found that the sensitivities and batch effects were slightly different for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal swab specimens. It is recommended to examine COVID-19 kits using the currently employed kits in routine diagnosis for better efficiency.