BACKGROUND: Amplification of viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) is the gold standard to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since the initial outbreak, strategies to detect and isolate patients have been important to avoid uncontrolled viral spread. Although testing capacities have been upscaled, there is still a need for reliable high throughput test systems, specifically those that require alternative consumables. Therefore, we tested and compared two different methods for the detection of viral PCR products: rRT-PCR and mass spectrometry (MS). METHODS: Viral RNA was isolated and amplified from oro- or nasopharyngeal swabs. A total of 22 samples that tested positive and 22 samples that tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 by rRT-PCR were analyzed by MS. Results of the rRT-PCR and the MS protocol were compared. RESULTS: Results of rRT-PCR and the MS test system were in concordance in all samples. Time-to-results was faster for rRT-PCR. Hands-on-time was comparable in both assays. CONCLUSIONS: MS is a fast, reliable and cost-effective alternative for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 from oral and nasopharyngeal swabs.
- Wandernoth, P.
- Kriegsmann, K.
- Groh-Mohanu, C.
- Daeumer, M.
- Gohl, P.
- Harzer, O.
- Kriegsmann, M.
- Kriegsmann, J.
Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Betacoronavirus/*isolation & purification
- Child
- Coronavirus Infections/*diagnosis/virology
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Mass Spectrometry/*methods
- Middle Aged
- Pandemics
- Pneumonia, Viral/*diagnosis/virology
- RNA, Viral/analysis
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Time Factors
- Young Adult
- *covid19
- *SARS-CoV2
- *mass spectrometry
- *severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2