Science and Research

Detection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by Mass Spectrometry

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
Publication details
DOI: 10.3390/v12080849
Journal: Viruses
Number: 8
Work Type: Original
Location: TLRC
Disease Area: PALI, PLI
Partner / Member: UKHD
Access-Number: 32759673
See publication on PubMed

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