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Cuypers L, Bode J, Beuselinck K, Laenen L, Dewaele K, Janssen R, Capron A, Lafort Y, Paridaens H, Bearzatto B, Cauchie M, Huwart A, Degosserie J, Fagnart O, Overmeire Y, Rouffiange A, Vandecandelaere I, Deffontaine M, Pilate T, Yin N, Micalessi I, Roisin S, Moons V, Reynders M, Steyaert S, Henin C, Lazarova E, Obbels D, Dufrasne FE, Pirenne H, Schepers R, Collin A, Verhasselt B, Gillet L, Jonckheere S, Van Lint P, Van den Poel B, Van der Beken Y, Stojkovic V, Garrino MG, Segers H, Vos K, Godefroid M, Pede V, Nollet F, Claes V, Verschraegen I, Bogaerts P, Van Gysel M, Leurs J, Saegeman V, Soetens O, Vanhee M, Schiettekatte G, Huyghe E, Martens S, Lemmens A, Nailis H, Laffineur K, Steensels D, Vanlaere E, Gras J, Roussel G, Gijbels K, Boudewijns M, Sion C, Achtergael W, Maurissen W, Iliano L, Chantrenne M, Vanheule G, Flies R, Hougardy N, Berth M, Verbeke V, Morent R, Vankeerberghen A, Bontems S, Kehoe K, Schallier A, Ho G, Bafort K, Raymaekers M, Pypen Y, Heinrichs A, Schuermans W, Cuigniez D, Lali SE, Drieghe S, Ory D, Le Mercier M, Van Laethem K, Thoelen I, Vandamme S, Mansoor I, Vael C, De Sloovere M, Declerck K, Dequeker E, Desmet S, Maes P, Lagrou K, André E. Nationwide Harmonization Effort for Semi-Quantitative Reporting of SARS-CoV-2 PCR Test Results in Belgium. Viruses 2022; 14:1294. [PMID: 35746765 PMCID: PMC9230955 DOI: 10.3390/v14061294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
From early 2020, a high demand for SARS-CoV-2 tests was driven by several testing indications, including asymptomatic cases, resulting in the massive roll-out of PCR assays to combat the pandemic. Considering the dynamic of viral shedding during the course of infection, the demand to report cycle threshold (Ct) values rapidly emerged. As Ct values can be affected by a number of factors, we considered that harmonization of semi-quantitative PCR results across laboratories would avoid potential divergent interpretations, particularly in the absence of clinical or serological information. A proposal to harmonize reporting of test results was drafted by the National Reference Centre (NRC) UZ/KU Leuven, distinguishing four categories of positivity based on RNA copies/mL. Pre-quantified control material was shipped to 124 laboratories with instructions to setup a standard curve to define thresholds per assay. For each assay, the mean Ct value and corresponding standard deviation was calculated per target gene, for the three concentrations (107, 105 and 103 copies/mL) that determine the classification. The results of 17 assays are summarized. This harmonization effort allowed to ensure that all Belgian laboratories would report positive PCR results in the same semi-quantitative manner to clinicians and to the national database which feeds contact tracing interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lize Cuypers
- National Reference Centre for Respiratory Pathogens, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (J.B.); (K.B.); (L.L.); (K.D.); (R.J.); (E.D.); (S.D.); (K.L.); (E.A.)
| | - Jannes Bode
- National Reference Centre for Respiratory Pathogens, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (J.B.); (K.B.); (L.L.); (K.D.); (R.J.); (E.D.); (S.D.); (K.L.); (E.A.)
| | - Kurt Beuselinck
- National Reference Centre for Respiratory Pathogens, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (J.B.); (K.B.); (L.L.); (K.D.); (R.J.); (E.D.); (S.D.); (K.L.); (E.A.)
| | - Lies Laenen
- National Reference Centre for Respiratory Pathogens, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (J.B.); (K.B.); (L.L.); (K.D.); (R.J.); (E.D.); (S.D.); (K.L.); (E.A.)
| | - Klaas Dewaele
- National Reference Centre for Respiratory Pathogens, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (J.B.); (K.B.); (L.L.); (K.D.); (R.J.); (E.D.); (S.D.); (K.L.); (E.A.)
| | - Reile Janssen
- National Reference Centre for Respiratory Pathogens, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (J.B.); (K.B.); (L.L.); (K.D.); (R.J.); (E.D.); (S.D.); (K.L.); (E.A.)
| | - Arnaud Capron
- Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases and Quality Service Unit, Scientific Directorate of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (A.C.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yves Lafort
- Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases and Quality Service Unit, Scientific Directorate of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (A.C.); (Y.L.)
| | - Henry Paridaens
- Clinical Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier Régional de la Citadelle, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
| | - Bertrand Bearzatto
- Federal Testing Platform COVID-19, Centre des Technologies Moléculaires Appliquées (CTMA), Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc and Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium;
| | | | | | - Jonathan Degosserie
- Federal Testing Platform COVID-19, Department of Laboratory Medicine, CHU UCL Namur, 5530 Yvoir, Belgium;
| | - Olivier Fagnart
- Saint-Jean Hospital Laboratory, Cebiodi, 1000 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Yarah Overmeire
- Microbiology, Labo Nuytinck, Anacura, 9940 Evergem, Belgium;
| | | | | | - Marine Deffontaine
- Laboratory of Clinical Biology, Centre Hopsitalier de Mouscron, 7700 Mouscron, Belgium;
| | - Thomas Pilate
- Clinical Laboratory, Laboratory Medicine, AZ Diest, 3290 Diest, Belgium;
| | - Nicolas Yin
- Department of Microbiology, Laboratoire Hospitalier Universitaire de Bruxelles—Universitair Laboratorium Brussel (LHUB-ULB), Université de Bruxelles (ULB), 1000 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Isabel Micalessi
- Clinical Reference Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium;
| | - Sandrine Roisin
- Microbiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Tivoli, 7100 La Louvière, Belgium;
| | - Veronique Moons
- Microbiology, LKO-LMC Medical Laboratory, 3800 Sint-Truiden, Belgium;
| | - Marijke Reynders
- Laboratory Medicine, AZ Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende AV, 8000 Brugge, Belgium;
| | - Sophia Steyaert
- Clinical Laboratory, AZ Maria Middelares, 9000 Gent, Belgium;
| | - Coralie Henin
- Federal Testing Platform COVID-19, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Elena Lazarova
- Centre Hospitalier Régional de la Haute Senne, Department of Clinical Biology, 7060 Soignies, Belgium;
| | - Dagmar Obbels
- Imelda, Clinical Laboratory, 2820 Bonheiden, Belgium;
| | | | - Hendri Pirenne
- Synlab Belgium, Synlab Laboratory Collard, 4020 Liège, Belgium;
| | - Raf Schepers
- Synlab Belgium, Synlab Laboratory Heppignies, 6220 Heppignies, Belgium;
| | | | - Bruno Verhasselt
- Federal Testing Platform COVID-19, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ghent University and Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Gent, Belgium;
| | - Laurent Gillet
- Federal Testing Platform COVID-19, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
| | - Stijn Jonckheere
- Jan Yperman Hospital, Laboratory of Clinical Biology, 8900 Ieper, Belgium;
| | | | - Bea Van den Poel
- Clinical Laboratory, General Hospital Jan Portaels, 1800 Vilvoorde, Belgium;
| | - Yolien Van der Beken
- Military Medicine Lab Capacity, Military Hospital Queen Astrid, 1120 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Violeta Stojkovic
- Centre Hospitalier Bois de l’Abbaye, Laboratory Service, 4100 Seraing, Belgium;
| | | | | | - Kevin Vos
- RZ Heilig Hart Tienen, Clinical Biology, 3300 Tienen, Belgium;
| | | | - Valerie Pede
- AZ Sint-Elisabeth Zottegem, Laboratory of Clinical Biology, 9600 Zottegem, Belgium;
| | - Friedel Nollet
- Biogazelle NV, Diagnostic Testing, 9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium;
| | - Vincent Claes
- Institute of Clinical Biology ULB-IBC, 1170 Brussels, Belgium;
| | | | - Pierre Bogaerts
- CHU UCL Namur, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Molecular Diagnostics Center, 5530 Yvoir, Belgium;
| | | | | | | | - Oriane Soetens
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Merijn Vanhee
- Clinical Laboratory, Laboratory Medicine, AZ Delta, 8800 Roeselare, Belgium;
| | | | - Evelyne Huyghe
- ZNA Middelheim, Clinical Laboratory, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium;
| | | | - Ann Lemmens
- AZ Sint-Maarten, Laboratory of Clinical Biology, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium;
| | | | | | - Deborah Steensels
- Clinical Laboratory, Campus Sint-Jan, Hospital Oost-Limburg, 3600 Genk, Belgium;
| | - Elke Vanlaere
- Clinical Laboratory, AZ Sint-Lucas Hospital, 9000 Gent, Belgium;
| | - Jérémie Gras
- Institute of Pathology and Genetics, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium;
| | - Gatien Roussel
- Clinique Saint Pierre, Laboratory, 1340 Ottignies, Belgium;
| | | | - Michael Boudewijns
- Clinical Laboratory, Campus Kennedylaan, AZ Groeninge, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium;
| | - Catherine Sion
- Grand Hôpital de Charleroi, Clinical Biology and Microbiology, 6060 Gilly, Belgium;
| | - Wim Achtergael
- Clinical Laboratory, Algemeen Stedelijk Ziekenhuis Aalst, 9300 Aalst, Belgium;
| | | | - Luc Iliano
- Laboratory for Medical Biology Iliano, 9070 Destelbergen, Belgium;
| | | | | | | | - Nicolas Hougardy
- Clinical Biology Unit, Vivalia Clinique du Sud-Luxembourg, 6700 Arlon, Belgium;
| | - Mario Berth
- Clinical Laboratory, AZ Alma, 9900 Eeklo, Belgium;
| | | | - Robin Morent
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Campus Henri Serruys, AZ Sint-Jan Brugge, 8400 Oostende, Belgium;
| | - Anne Vankeerberghen
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Campus Aalst-Asse-Ninove, Onze-Lieve-Vrouwziekenhuis, 9300 Aalst, Belgium;
| | - Sébastien Bontems
- Clinical Laboratory, Unit of Clinical Microbiology, CHU Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
| | - Kaat Kehoe
- Microbiology, Algemeen Medisch Laboratorium, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium;
| | | | - Giang Ho
- Laboratory, Clinique du MontLégia, Groupe Santé CHC, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
| | - Kristof Bafort
- Clinical Laboratory, Mariaziekenhuis Noorderhart, 3900 Pelt, Belgium;
| | - Marijke Raymaekers
- Laboratory for Molecular Diagnostics, Jessa Hospital, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium;
| | - Yolande Pypen
- Microbiology, Laboratory Somedi, 2220 Heist-op-den-Berg, Belgium;
| | - Amelie Heinrichs
- Laboratory of Clinical Biology, Hospital Arlon—Vivalia, 6700 Arlon, Belgium;
| | - Wim Schuermans
- Clinical Laboratory, Ziekenhuis Geel, 2440 Geel, Belgium;
| | | | | | - Stefanie Drieghe
- Microbiology, Algemeen Medisch Laboratorium West, 8850 Ardooie, Belgium;
| | - Dieter Ory
- Clinical Laboratory, Heilig Hart Ziekenhuis Mol, 2400 Mol, Belgium;
| | - Marie Le Mercier
- Federal Testing Platform COVID-19, University Hospitals Antwerp, 2650 Edegem, Belgium;
| | - Kristel Van Laethem
- Federal Testing Platform COVID-19, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Inge Thoelen
- Clinical Laboratory, AZ Vesalius Tongeren, 3700 Tongeren, Belgium;
| | - Sarah Vandamme
- Microbiology Laboratory, University Hospitals Antwerp, 2650 Edegem, Belgium;
| | - Iqbal Mansoor
- Clinical Laboratory, Hospital Hornu Epicura, 7301 Boussu, Belgium;
| | - Carl Vael
- Clinical Laboratory, AZ Klina, 2930 Brasschaat, Belgium;
| | | | | | - Elisabeth Dequeker
- National Reference Centre for Respiratory Pathogens, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (J.B.); (K.B.); (L.L.); (K.D.); (R.J.); (E.D.); (S.D.); (K.L.); (E.A.)
| | - Stefanie Desmet
- National Reference Centre for Respiratory Pathogens, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (J.B.); (K.B.); (L.L.); (K.D.); (R.J.); (E.D.); (S.D.); (K.L.); (E.A.)
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Piet Maes
- Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Katrien Lagrou
- National Reference Centre for Respiratory Pathogens, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (J.B.); (K.B.); (L.L.); (K.D.); (R.J.); (E.D.); (S.D.); (K.L.); (E.A.)
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Emmanuel André
- National Reference Centre for Respiratory Pathogens, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (J.B.); (K.B.); (L.L.); (K.D.); (R.J.); (E.D.); (S.D.); (K.L.); (E.A.)
- Federal Testing Platform COVID-19, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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