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Chang CK, Chen CS, Jian MJ, Chung HY, Chang FY, Lin JC, Hsieh SS, Tang SH, Perng CL, Chen CW, Chiu CH, Shang HS. Monitoring coronavirus disease progression and clinical impact through quantitative viral load testing. Clin Chim Acta 2024; 560:119731. [PMID: 38754576 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2024.119731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The viral load (VL) in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected individuals is critical for improving clinical treatment strategies, care, and decisions. Several studies have reported that the initial SARS-CoV-2 VL is associated with disease severity and mortality. Cycle threshold (Ct) values and/or copies/mL are often used to quantify VL. However, a multitude of platforms, primer/probe sets of different SARS-CoV-2 target genes, and reference material manufacturers may cause inconsistent interlaboratory interpretations. The first International Standard for SARS-CoV-2 RNA quantitative assays has allowed diagnostic laboratories to transition SARS-CoV-2 VL results into international units per milliliter (IU/mL). The Cobas SARS-CoV-2 Duo quantitative assay provides VL results expressed in IU/mL. MATERIALS AND METHODS We enrolled 145 and 50 SARS-CoV-2-positive, hospitalized and 50-negative individuals at the Tri-Service General Hospital, Taiwan from January to May 2022. Each participant's electronic medical record was reviewed to determine asymptomatic, mild, moderate, and severe cases. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected using universal transport medium. We investigated the association of SARS-CoV-2 VL with disease severity using the Cobas SARS-CoV-2 Duo quantitative assay and its functionality in clinical assessment and decision making to further improve clinical treatment strategies. Limit of detection (LOD) was assessed. RESULTS All 50 SARS-CoV-2-negative samples confirmed negative for SARS-CoV-2, demonstrating 100 % specificity of the Cobas SARS-CoV-2 Duo assay. Patients with severe symptoms had longer hospital stays, and the length of hospital stay (30.56 days on average) positively correlated with the VL (8.22 ± 1.21 log10 IU/mL). Asymptomatic patients had the lowest VL (5.54 ± 2.06 log10 IU/mL) at admission and the shortest hospital stay (14.1 days on average). CONCLUSIONS VL is associated with disease severity and duration of hospitalization; therefore, its quantification should be considered when making clinical care decisions and treatment strategies. The Cobas SARS-CoV-2 Duo assay provides a commutable unitage IU/mL for interlaboratory interpretations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Kai Chang
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chi-Sheng Chen
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Ming-Jr Jian
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Hsing-Yi Chung
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Feng-Yee Chang
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Jung-Chung Lin
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Shan-Shan Hsieh
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Sheng-Hui Tang
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Cherng-Lih Perng
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chien-Wen Chen
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chun-Hsiang Chiu
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Hung-Sheng Shang
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
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Jian MJ, Chen CS, Chung HY, Chang CK, Perng CL, Shang HS. Clinical Evaluation of Direct Reverse Transcription PCR for Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Compared to Conventional RT-PCR in Patients with Positive Rapid Antigen Test Results during Circulation of Emerging Viral Variants. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:3668. [PMID: 38132252 PMCID: PMC10743042 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13243668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of SARS-CoV-2 has precipitated a new global wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid identification of SARS-CoV-2 infection is imperative for the effective mitigation of transmission. Diagnostic modalities such as rapid antigen testing and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) offer expedient turnaround times of 10-15 min and straightforward implementation. This preliminary study assessed the correlation between outcomes of commercially available rapid antigen tests for home use and conventional reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays using a limited set of clinical specimens. Patients aged 5-99 years presenting to the emergency department for SARS-CoV-2 testing were eligible for enrollment (n = 5652). Direct PCR and conventional RT-PCR were utilized for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. The entire cohort of 5652 clinical specimens was assessed by both modalities to determine the clinical utility of the direct RT-PCR assay. Timely confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection may attenuate viral propagation and guide therapeutic interventions. Additionally, direct RT-PCR as a secondary confirmatory test for at-home rapid antigen test results demonstrated sensitivity comparable to conventional RT-PCR, indicating utility for implementation in laboratories globally, especially in resource-limited settings with constraints on reagents, equipment, and skilled personnel. In summary, direct RT-PCR enables the detection of SARS-CoV-2 with a sensitivity approaching that of conventional RT-PCR while offering expedient throughput and shorter turnaround times. Moreover, direct RT-PCR provides an open-source option for diagnostic laboratories worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Jr Jian
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan; (M.-J.J.); (C.-S.C.); (H.-Y.C.); (C.-K.C.); (C.-L.P.)
| | - Chi-Sheng Chen
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan; (M.-J.J.); (C.-S.C.); (H.-Y.C.); (C.-K.C.); (C.-L.P.)
| | - Hsing-Yi Chung
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan; (M.-J.J.); (C.-S.C.); (H.-Y.C.); (C.-K.C.); (C.-L.P.)
- Graduate Institute of Medical Science, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Kai Chang
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan; (M.-J.J.); (C.-S.C.); (H.-Y.C.); (C.-K.C.); (C.-L.P.)
| | - Cherng-Lih Perng
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan; (M.-J.J.); (C.-S.C.); (H.-Y.C.); (C.-K.C.); (C.-L.P.)
| | - Hung-Sheng Shang
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan; (M.-J.J.); (C.-S.C.); (H.-Y.C.); (C.-K.C.); (C.-L.P.)
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Yang CR, Chang SY, Gong YN, Huang CG, Tung TH, Liu W, Chan TC, Hung KS, Shang HS, Tsai JJ, Kao CL, Wu HL, Daisy Liu LY, Lin WY, Fan YC, King CC, Ku CC. The emergence and successful elimination of SARS-CoV-2 dominant strains with increasing epidemic potential in Taiwan's 2021 outbreak. Heliyon 2023; 9:e22436. [PMID: 38107297 PMCID: PMC10724543 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Taiwan's experience with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in 2003 guided its development of strategies to defend against SARS-CoV-2 in 2020, which enabled the successful control of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases from 2020 through March 2021. However, in late-April 2021, the imported Alpha variant began to cause COVID-19 outbreaks at an exceptional rate in Taiwan. In this study, we aimed to determine what epidemiological conditions enabled the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant strains to become dominant and decline later during a surge in the outbreak. In conjunction with contact-tracing investigations, we used our bioinformatics software, CoVConvert and IniCoV, to analyze whole-genome sequences of 101 Taiwan Alpha strains. Univariate and multivariable regression analyses revealed the epidemiological factors associated with viral dominance. Univariate analysis showed the dominant Alpha strains were preferentially selected in the surge's epicenter (p = 0.0024) through intensive human-to-human contact and maintained their dominance for 1.5 months until the Zero-COVID Policy was implemented. Multivariable regression found that the epidemic periods (p = 0.007) and epicenter (p = 0.001) were two significant factors associated with the dominant virus strains spread in the community. These dominant virus strains emerged at the outbreak's epicenter with frequent human-to-human contact and low vaccination coverage. The Level 3 Restrictions and Zero-COVID policy successfully controlled the outbreak in the community without city lockdowns. Our integrated method can identify the epidemiological conditions for emerging dominant virus with increasing epidemiological potential and support decision makers in rapidly containing outbreaks using public health measures that target fast-spreading virus strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-Rur Yang
- Graduate Institute of Immunology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, 1 Jen-Ai Road Section 1, Taipei, 10051, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Sui-Yuan Chang
- Department (Dept.) of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10051, Taiwan, ROC
- Dept. of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, 10051, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yu-Nong Gong
- Research Center for Emerging Viral Infections, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan, ROC
- Dept. of Laboratory Medicine, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chung-Guei Huang
- Dept. of Laboratory Medicine, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan, ROC
- Dept. of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 33302, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Tsung-Hua Tung
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, NTU 17 Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei, 10055, Taiwan, ROC
- Dept. of Health, Taipei City Government, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Wei Liu
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, NTU 17 Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei, 10055, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ta-Chien Chan
- Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Kuo-Sheng Hung
- Center for Precision Medicine and Genomics, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, 11490, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Hung-Sheng Shang
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Dept. of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, 11490, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Jih-Jin Tsai
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan, ROC
- Tropical Medicine Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, 80756, Taiwan, ROC
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, 80756, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chuan-Liang Kao
- Department (Dept.) of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10051, Taiwan, ROC
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, NTU 17 Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei, 10055, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Hui-Lin Wu
- Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, 10051, Taiwan, ROC
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10051, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Li-Yu Daisy Liu
- Division of Biometry, Department of Agronomy, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Wan-Yu Lin
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, NTU 17 Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei, 10055, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yi-Chin Fan
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, NTU 17 Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei, 10055, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chwan-Chuen King
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, NTU 17 Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei, 10055, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chia-Chi Ku
- Graduate Institute of Immunology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, 1 Jen-Ai Road Section 1, Taipei, 10051, Taiwan, ROC
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Donnelly JA, Russell M, O'Brien G, O'Neill I, Fitzpatrick F, O'Connell K. Preparing for the next pandemic: lessons learnt from the implementation of point-of-care SARS-CoV-2 testing in an emergency department. J Clin Pathol 2023; 76:642-646. [PMID: 37193583 DOI: 10.1136/jcp-2023-208857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Point-of-care testing (POCT) provides rapid, accurate results that facilitate diagnosis and patient management. POCT for infectious agents allows timely infection prevention and control interventions and informs decisions around safe patient placement. However, POCT implementation requires careful governance as they are primarily operated by staff with limited prior education on laboratory quality control and assurance processes. Here, we describe our experience implementing SARS-CoV-2 POCT in the emergency department of a large tertiary referral hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. We describe collaborative governance between pathology and clinical specialities, quality assurance, testing (volume and positivity rates), impact on patient flow and focus on lessons learnt during implementation that should be incorporated into revised pandemic preparedness planning.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gemma O'Brien
- Near Patient Testing, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ian O'Neill
- Information and Communications Technologies Department, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fidelma Fitzpatrick
- Microbiology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Microbiology, RCSI, Dublin, Ireland
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Park K, Sung H, Kim MN. Evaluation of the cobas Liat detection test for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses following the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2023; 105:115891. [PMID: 36738537 PMCID: PMC9810546 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2023.115891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study assessed the clinical performance of the cobas Liat SARS‑CoV‑2 & Influenza A/B assay (LiatCOVID/flu) for the detection of both severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza viruses during the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron outbreak. METHODS Residual nasopharyngeal swab samples (NPS) previously tested with cobas SARS-CoV-2 & Influenza A/B for SARS-CoV-2 and with the Allplex Respiratory Panel 1 for influenza viruses were collected. All samples were submitted to the LiatCOVID/flu assay. RESULTS A total of 1147 samples were collected comprising 167 SARS-CoV-2-positive, 556 SARS-CoV-2-negative, 224 influenza-positive, and 200 influenza-negative cases. The positive percent agreement (PPA)/negative percent agreement (NPA) of LiatCOVID/flu for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses compared to the previously tested methods were 100% of 100% and 99.6% of 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The LiatCOVID/flu assay shows an acceptable performance in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses using NPS samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuenyoul Park
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Heungsup Sung
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Mi-Na Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Park J, Kim SY, Lee J, Hong KH. Clinical Evaluation of BioFire COVID-19 Test, BioFire Respiratory Panel 2.1, and Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 Assays for Sample-to-Answer Detection of SARS-CoV-2. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:233. [PMID: 36672974 PMCID: PMC9859140 DOI: 10.3390/genes14010233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Due to the extreme infectivity of SARS-CoV-2, sample-to-answer SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription (RT) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays are urgently needed in order to facilitate infectious disease surveillance and control. The purpose of this study was to evaluate three sample-to-answer SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assays—BioFire COVID-19 Test, BioFire RP 2.1, and Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2—using clinical samples. Methods: A total of 77 leftover nasopharyngeal swab (NP) swabs (36 positives and 41 negatives) confirmed by reference SARS-CoV-2 RT real-time (q) PCR assay were collected. The clinical sample concordance, as specified by their respective emergency use authorizations (EUAs), in comparison to the reference SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR assay, was assessed. Results: The results showed that all three sample-to-answer SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assays provided perfectly concordant results consistent with the reference SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR assay. The BioFire COVID-19 Test exhibited the best turnaround time (TAT) compared to the other assays, regardless of the test results, using one-way analysis of variance followed by Scheffe’s post hoc test (p < 0.001). The Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 showed a shorter average TAT (mean ± standard deviation, 49.9 ± 3.1 min) in the positive samples compared to that (55.7 ± 2.5 min) of the negative samples. Conclusions: Our evaluation demonstrates that the BioFire COVID-19 Test, BioFire RP 2.1, and Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 assays compare favorably to the reference SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR assay, along with a 100% concordance in assay results for clinical samples and an acceptable analytical performance at their guaranteed limits of detection. The addition of a widely used simultaneous sample-to-answer SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay will contribute to the number of medical laboratories able to test for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joonhong Park
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jeonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Jeonju 54907, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju 54907, Republic of Korea
| | - So Yeon Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Medical Center, Seoul 04564, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaehyeon Lee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jeonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Jeonju 54907, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju 54907, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Ho Hong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
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Leung T, Kumar P, Abhishek K. A Metasynthesis and Meta-analysis of the Impact and Diagnostic Safety of COVID-19 Symptom Agnostic Rapid Testing in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Protocol for a Systematic Review. JMIR Res Protoc 2023; 12:e41132. [PMID: 36602849 PMCID: PMC9822567 DOI: 10.2196/41132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amid all public health measures to contain COVID-19, the most challenging has been how to break the transmission chain. This has been even more challenging in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A public health emergency warrants a public health perspective, which comes down to prevention. Rapid mass testing has been advocated throughout the pandemic as a way to promptly deal with asymptomatic infections, but its usefulness in LMICs is yet to be fully understood. OBJECTIVE The study objectives of this paper are to (1) investigate the impact of the different rapid mass testing options for SARS-CoV-2 that have been delivered at point of care in LMICs and (2) evaluate the diagnostic safety (accuracy) of rapid mass testing for SARS-CoV-2 in LMICs. METHODS This review will systematically search records in PubMed, EBSCOhost, Cochrane library, Global Index Medicus COVID-19 Register, and Scopus. Records will be managed using Mendeley reference manager and SWIFT-Review. Risk of bias for randomized controlled trials will be assessed using the RoB 2 assessment tool, while nonrandomized interventions will be assessed using the tool developed by the Evidence Project. A narrative approach will be used to synthesize data under the first objective, and either a meta-analysis or synthesis without meta-analysis for the second objective. Tables, figures, and textual descriptions will be used to present findings. The overall body of evidence for the first objective will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation-Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research (GRADE-CERQual) approach, and for the second objective using GRADE. RESULTS The screening of records has been finalized. We hope to finalize the synthesis by the end of February 2023 and to prepare the manuscript for publication by April 2023. The study will be reported in accordance with standard guidelines for the reporting of systematic reviews. Review results will be disseminated through conferences and their peer-reviewed publication in a relevant journal. CONCLUSIONS This review highlights the role of a preventive approach in infection control using rapid mass testing. It also flags the overriding need to involve users and providers in the evaluation of such tests in the settings for which they are intended. This will be the first review to the best of our knowledge to generate both qualitative and quantitative evidence regarding rapid mass testing specific to LMICs. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42022283776; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=283776. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/41132.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pratyush Kumar
- Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College and Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Kumar Abhishek
- Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College and Hospital, New Delhi, India
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Huang RC, Chiu CH, Shang HS, Perng CL, Chiang TT, Tsai CC, Wang CH. Clinical characteristics analysis of COVID-19 patients from the first significant community outbreak by SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 in Taiwan as experienced from a single northern medical center. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY, AND INFECTION = WEI MIAN YU GAN RAN ZA ZHI 2022; 55:1036-1043. [PMID: 36057491 PMCID: PMC9381423 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2022.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Clinical characteristics of patients in the first community outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant B.1.1.7 in Taiwan have not been characterized. METHODS SARS-CoV-2 positive specimens from inpatients between May 7 and June 15 in 2021were screen for SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage by VirSNiP assay. Clinical characteristics were reviewed and compared with those from Feb 1 to April 30, 2020 and from Jan 1 to March 31, 2022. RESULTS One hundred forty-one inpatients from May 7 to June 15, 2021 infected with SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage were included. The major presenting symptoms were fever (88.7%) and cough (59.6%). Incidence of relevant complications including pulmonary embolism, simultaneous infections with bacteria, virus, and fungi were 0.7%, 12.8%, 13.5%, and 2.1%, respectively. Old age, high Charlson comorbidity index, short of breath, and initial critical illness were independently associated with 28-day mortality (all p < 0.05). In comparison to COVID-19 inpatients from Feb 1 to April 30, 2020, patients from the outbreak by SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage were older, more severe in disease condition, higher mortality but less obvious initial presenting symptoms. After implementation of nationwide vaccination campaign in the next half year of 2021, COVID-19 inpatients from Jan 1 to March 31 in 2022 indicated less severe diseases than those infected with SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage. CONCLUSION COVID-19 inpatients by SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 with old age, multiple comorbidities, and more severe disease conditions were associated with increased mortality. Vaccination for this vulnerable populations may be helpful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruei-Chang Huang
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chun-Hsiang Chiu
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Hung-Sheng Shang
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Cherng-Lih Perng
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Tsung-Ta Chiang
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chun-Chou Tsai
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ching-Hsun Wang
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC,Corresponding author. Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Section 2, Cheng-Kung Road, Neihu 114, Taipei, Taiwan. Fax: +886-2-87927258
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Bruijns B, Folkertsma L, Tiggelaar R. FDA authorized molecular point-of-care SARS-CoV-2 tests: A critical review on principles, systems and clinical performances. BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS: X 2022; 11:100158. [PMID: 35619623 PMCID: PMC9122839 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosx.2022.100158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, 10 manufacturers of molecular tests for SARS-CoV-2 have received Emergency Use Authorizations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for point-of-care or over the counter use. In this review, the working principle of these tests is described as well as the relevant characteristics (e.g. time-to-result and specimen type). The analytical (e.g. analytical sensitivity) and clinical performance (positive and negative percent agreement) and useability characteristics (e.g. cost, reusability and throughput) of these tests are compared and critically reviewed. Also details for relevant respiratory multiplex assays of these 10 manufacturers are discussed. Critical review of scientific literature on these authorized tests revealed that for many of these tests publications are almost or completely absent, with the exception of two systems. The Xpert Xpress has been thoroughly investigated and good performance has been reported, whereas ID NOW is also well-represented in literature, but has relatively low sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Roald Tiggelaar
- NanoLab Cleanroom, MESA Institute, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7500 AE, Enschede, the Netherlands
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10
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Emergency SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern: rapidly direct RT-qPCR detection without RNA extraction, clinical comparison, cost-effective, and high-throughput. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 14:4624-4633. [PMID: 35657641 PMCID: PMC9217698 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Since the late 2020, the evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern has been characterized by the emergence of spike protein mutations, and these variants have become dominant worldwide. The gold standard SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis protocol requires two complex processes, namely, RNA extraction and real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). There is a need for a faster, simpler, and more cost-effective detection strategy that can be utilized worldwide, especially in developing countries. We propose the novel use of direct RT-qPCR, which does not require RNA extraction or a preheating step. For the detection, retrospectively, we used 770 clinical nasopharyngeal swabs, including positive and negative samples. The samples were subjected to RT-qPCR in the N1 and E genes using two different thermocyclers. The limit of detection was 30 copies/reaction for N1 and 60 copies/reaction for E. Analytical sensitivity was assessed for the developed direct RT-qPCR; the sensitivity was 95.69%, negative predictive value was 99.9%, accuracy of 99.35%, and area under the curve was 0.978. This novel direct RT-qPCR diagnosis method without RNA extraction is a reliable and high-throughput alternative method that can significantly save cost, labor, and time during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
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11
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Comparative Performance Evaluation of FilmArray BioFire RP2.1 and MAScIR 2.0 Assays for SARS-CoV-2 Detection. Adv Virol 2022; 2022:4510900. [PMID: 35693128 PMCID: PMC9177333 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4510900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background RT-PCR is the gold standard for COVID-19 diagnosis, but the lack of standardization of assays, whose diagnostic performance may widely vary, complicates the interpretation of the discrepancies that may be encountered. Study design. We conducted a retrospective study over a ten-month period at the Central Laboratory of Virology of Ibn Sina University Hospital of Rabat. We included nasopharyngeal swabs, positive and negative for SARS-CoV-2 on FilmArray BioFire® Respiratory Panel 2.1 Plus, which were subjected to our laboratory's reference test, MAScIR SARS-CoV-2 M kit 2.0, initially or after a freeze-thaw cycle. The results were compared, and each discrepant sample with sufficient volume underwent the third test, using ARGENE® SARS-CoV-2 R-GENE kit. Results Of 80 SARS-CoV-2 negative samples on FilmArray, there were no discordant results, whereas of 80 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples on FilmArray, 21 had discordant results on MAScIR, and only 11 could be tested on ARGENE, revealing positive results in 6 cases. 12.7% and 76.5% correspond to the discordance rates for MAScIR (with one or both targets detected on FilmArray), while 14.3% and 100% correspond to those of ARGENE. As the estimated sensitivity and specificity of FilmArray, compared with MAScIR, were 100% and 79.2%, respectively, its lower limit of detection, and ARGENE assay results, made it difficult to distinguish between false positives on FilmArray and false negatives on MAScIR without further investigations. Conclusion The implementation of a new assay in our laboratory revealed discrepancies suggesting a lack of sensitivity of our laboratory's reference test, leading us consequently to retain the SARS-CoV-2 positive result of these discordant samples on FilmArray, regardless of the detection of one or both targets. Our study, which is, to our knowledge, the first comparing FilmArray RP2.1 and MAScIR 2.0 assays for SARS-CoV-2 detection, highlights the urgent need to standardize RT-PCR assays for COVID-19 diagnosis.
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12
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Akine D, Sasahara T, Koido A, Abe K, Abe K, Oki A, Takeyasu N, Hashimoto I. Case of a pregnant woman with probable prolonged SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding 221 days after diagnosis. J Infect Chemother 2022; 28:998-1000. [PMID: 35367149 PMCID: PMC8958094 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2022.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
We describe a case of probable prolonged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Alpha(B.1.1.7) variant shedding for 221 days from the diagnosis, in a healthy 20-year-old Japanese pregnant woman with a normal delivery. To our knowledge, this is the longest duration of SARS-CoV-2 shedding reported in an immunocompetent individual to date.
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13
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Emergency SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern: Novel Multiplex Real-Time RT-PCR Assay for Rapid Detection and Surveillance. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0251321. [PMID: 35196812 PMCID: PMC8865422 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02513-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread worldwide. Many variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been reported, some of which have increased transmissibility and/or reduced susceptibility to vaccines. There is an urgent need for variant phenotyping for epidemiological surveillance of circulating lineages. Whole-genome sequencing is the gold standard for identifying SARS-CoV-2 variants, which constitutes a major bottleneck in developing countries. Methodological simplification could increase epidemiological surveillance feasibility and efficiency. We designed a novel multiplex real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) to detect SARS-CoV-2 variants with S gene mutations. This multiplex PCR typing method was established to detect 9 mutations with specific primers and probes (ΔHV 69/70, K417T, K417N, L452R, E484K, E484Q, N501Y, P681H, and P681R) against the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 variants. In silico analyses showed high specificity of the assays. Variants of concern (VOC) typing results were found to be highly specific for our intended targets, with no cross-reactivity observed with other upper respiratory viruses. The PCR-based typing methods were further validated using whole-genome sequencing and a commercial kit that was applied to clinical samples of 250 COVID-19 patients from Taiwan. The screening of these samples allowed the identification of epidemic trends by time intervals, including B.1.617.2 in the third Taiwan wave outbreak. This PCR typing strategy allowed the detection of five major variants of concern and also provided an open-source PCR assay which could rapidly be deployed in laboratories around the world to enhance surveillance for the local emergence and spread of B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, and B.1.617.2 variants and of four Omicron mutations on the spike protein (ΔHV 69/70, K417N, N501Y, P681H). IMPORTANCE COVID-19 has spread globally. SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) are leading the next waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous studies have pointed out that these VOCs may have increased infectivity, have reduced vaccine susceptibility, change treatment regimens, and increase the difficulty of epidemic prevention policy. Understanding SARS-CoV-2 variants remains an issue of concern for all local government authorities and is critical for establishing and implementing effective public health measures. A novel SARS-CoV-2 variant identification method based on a multiplex real-time RT-PCR was developed in this study. Five SARS-CoV-2 variants (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron) were identified simultaneously using this method. PCR typing can provide rapid testing results with lower cost and higher feasibility, which is well within the capacity for any diagnostic laboratory. Characterizing these variants and their mutations is important for tracking SAR-CoV-2 evolution and is conducive to public infection control and policy formulation strategies.
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14
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Chang CK, Jian MJ, Chung HY, Lin JC, Hsieh SS, Tang S, Perng CL, Chen CW, Hung KS, Chang FY, Shang HS. Clinical Comparative Evaluation of the LabTurbo TM AIO ® Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction and World Health Organization-Recommended Assays for the Detection of Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:595-603. [PMID: 35237052 PMCID: PMC8882663 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s349669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent behind coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Single-plex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based assays are widely used for COVID-19 detection but exhibit decreased sensitivity and specificity in detecting the rapidly spreading SARS-CoV-2 variants; in contrast, multiplex RT-PCR reportedly yields better results. Here, we aimed at comparatively analyzing the clinical performance of the LabTurboTM AIO COVID-19 RNA testing kit, a multiplex quantitative RT-PCR kit, including a three-target (E, N1, and RNase P), single-reaction, triplex assay used for SARS-CoV-2 detection, with that of the WHO-recommended RT-PCR assay. MATERIALS AND METHODS Residual, natural, nasopharyngeal swabs obtained from universal transport medium specimens at SARS-CoV-2 testing centers (n = 414) were collected from May to October 2021. For SARS-CoV-2 qRT-PCR, total viral nucleic acid was extracted. The limit of detection (LOD) and the comparative clinical performances of the LabTurboTM AIO COVID-19 RNA kit and the WHO-recommended RT-PCR assay were assessed. Statistical analysis of the correlation was performed and results with R2 values >0.9 were considered to be highly correlated. RESULTS The LOD of the LabTurboTM AIO COVID-19 RNA kit was 9.4 copies/reaction for the target genes N1 and E. The results obtained from 102 SARS-CoV-2-positive and 312 SARS-CoV-2-negative samples showed 100% correlation with previous WHO-recommended RT-PCR assay results. CONCLUSION Multiplex qRT-PCR is a critical tool for detecting unknown pathogens and employs multiple target genes. The LabTurboTM AIO COVID-19 RNA testing kit provides an effective and efficient assay for SARS-CoV-2 detection and is highly compatible with SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Kai Chang
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Ming-Jr Jian
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Hsing-Yi Chung
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Jung-Chung Lin
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Shan-Shan Hsieh
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Sheng‐Hui Tang
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Cherng-Lih Perng
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chien-Wen Chen
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Kuo-Sheng Hung
- Center for Precision Medicine and Genomics, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Feng-Yee Chang
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Hung-Sheng Shang
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Correspondence: Hung-Sheng Shang; Feng-Yee Chang, Tel +886920713130, Fax +886287927226, Email ;
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15
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Jian MJ, Perng CL, Chung HY, Chang CK, Lin JC, Yeh KM, Chen CW, Hsieh SS, Pan PC, Chang HT, Chang FY, Ho CL, Shang HS. Clinical assessment of SARS-CoV-2 antigen rapid detection compared with RT-PCR assay for emerging variants at a high-throughput community testing site in Taiwan. Int J Infect Dis 2021; 115:30-34. [PMID: 34843956 PMCID: PMC8620016 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.11.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives With the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.1.7 lineage in the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Taiwan confronted a COVID-19 flare up in May 2021. Large-scale, accurate, affordable and rapid diagnostic tests such as the lateral flow assay can help to prevent community transmission, but their performance characteristics in real-world conditions and relevant subpopulations remain unclear. Methods The COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Kit (Eternal Materials, New Taipei City, Taiwan) was used in a high-throughput community testing site; the paired reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results served as a reference for sensitivity and specificity calculations. Results Of 2096 specimens tested using the rapid antigen test, 70 (3.33%) were positive and 2026 (96.7%) were negative. This clinical performance was compared with the RT-PCR results. The sensitivity and specificity of the rapid antigen test were 76.39% [95% confidence interval (CI) 64.91–85.60%] and 99.26% (95% CI 98.78–99.58%), respectively, with high sensitivity in subjects with cycle threshold values ≤24. Further, the rapid antigen test detected the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage effectively. Conclusions Considering the short turnaround times and lower costs, this simple SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection test for rapid screening combined with RT-PCR as a double confirmatory screening tool can facilitate the prevention of community transmission during COVID-19 emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Jr Jian
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defence Medical Centre, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Cherng-Lih Perng
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defence Medical Centre, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Hsing-Yi Chung
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defence Medical Centre, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Chih-Kai Chang
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defence Medical Centre, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Jung-Chung Lin
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defence Medical Centre, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Kuo-Ming Yeh
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defence Medical Centre, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Chien-Wen Chen
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defence Medical Centre, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Shan-Shan Hsieh
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defence Medical Centre, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Pin-Ching Pan
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defence Medical Centre, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Hao-Ting Chang
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defence Medical Centre, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Feng-Yee Chang
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defence Medical Centre, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Ching-Liang Ho
- Division of Haematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defence Medical Centre, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
| | - Hung-Sheng Shang
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defence Medical Centre, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
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16
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Graf EH. Finding the Middle Ground with the Clinical Laboratory's Role in SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Surveillance. J Clin Microbiol 2021; 59:e0181621. [PMID: 34550811 PMCID: PMC8601223 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01816-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Continued replacement of the dominant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) lineages, and associated surges, highlights the importance of genomic surveillance to identify the next possible threats. Despite concerted efforts between clinical laboratories and public health to generate sequence data, the United States has lagged in percentage of SARS-CoV-2 cases sequenced. A more simple and cost-effective option is needed to allow front-line clinical laboratories to perform high-throughput surveillance and refer important samples for slow and expensive next-generation sequencing (NGS). In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, A. Babiker, K. Immergluck, S. D. Stampfer, A. Rao, et al. (J Clin Microbiol 59:e01446-21, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.01446-21) describe a rapid and flexible multiplex single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assay targeting mutations associated with Alpha, Beta/Gamma, and, added later, Delta variants. They show 100% accuracy in characterized variant pools and clinical samples confirmed by NGS. Such an approach could be a happy medium in the role of front-line laboratories to assist with critically needed high-throughput genomic surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin H. Graf
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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Jian MJ, Chung HY, Chang CK, Lin JC, Yeh KM, Chen CW, Lin DY, Chang FY, Hung KS, Perng CL, Shang HS. SARS-CoV-2 Variants with T135I Nucleocapsid Mutations may Affect Antigen Test Performance. Int J Infect Dis 2021; 114:112-114. [PMID: 34758391 PMCID: PMC8572148 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a pandemic. Diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 has continuously been challenged due to several variants with diverse spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) protein mutations []. SARS-CoV-2 variant proliferation potentially affects N protein-targeted rapid antigen testing. In this study, rapid antigen and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) tests were performed simultaneously in patients with suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Direct whole genome sequencing was performed to determine the N protein variations, and the viral assemblies were uploaded to GISAID. The genomes were then compared with those of global virus strains from GISAID. These isolates belonged to the B.1.1.7 variant, exhibiting several amino acid substitutions, including D3L, R203K, G204R, and S235F N protein mutations. The T135I mutation was also identified in one variant case in which the rapid antigen test and RT-PCR test were discordantly negative and positive, respectively. These findings suggest that the variants undetected by the Panbio COVID-19 rapid antigen test may be due to the T135I mutation in the N protein, posing a potential diagnostic risk for commercially available antigen tests. Hence, we recommend concomitant paired rapid antigen tests and molecular diagnostic methods to detect SARS-CoV-2. False-negative results could be rapidly corrected using confirmatory RT-PCR results to prevent future COVID-19 outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Jr Jian
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Hsing-Yi Chung
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chih-Kai Chang
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Jung-Chung Lin
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Kuo-Ming Yeh
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chien-Wen Chen
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - De-Yu Lin
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Feng-Yee Chang
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Kuo-Sheng Hung
- Center for Precision Medicine and Genomics, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Cherng-Lih Perng
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Hung-Sheng Shang
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
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