Assessment of Multiplex Digital Droplet RT-PCR as a Diagnostic Tool for SARS-CoV-2 Detection in Nasopharyngeal Swabs and Saliva Samples. (2nd January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cassinari, Kévin; Alessandri-Gradt, Elodie; Chambon, Pascal; Charbonnier, Françoise; Gracias, Ségolène; Beaussire, Ludivine; Alexandre, Kevin; Sarafan-Vasseur, Nasrin; Houdayer, Claude; Etienne, Manuel; Caron, François; Plantier, Jean Christophe; Frebourg, Thierry
• Is Part Of: Clinical chemistry. Volume 67:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 736
• Page End: 741
• Publication Date: 2021-01-02
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- SARS-CoV-2 -- RT-ddPCR -- nasopharyngeal swab -- saliva -- sensitivity; Clinical chemistry -- Periodicals; Pharmaceutical chemistry -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Biochimie -- Périodiques; Diagnostics biologiques -- Périodiques; Biochemistry; Clinical chemistry; Pharmaceutical chemistry; Biochemistry; Laboratory Techniques and Procedures; Klinische chemie; Periodicals; 616.075605
• DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/hvaa323
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-9147

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR on nasopharyngeal swabs is currently the reference COVID-19 diagnosis method but exhibits imperfect sensitivity. Methods: We developed a multiplex reverse transcription-digital droplet PCR (RT-ddPCR) assay, targeting 6 SARS-CoV-2 genomic regions, and evaluated it on nasopharyngeal swabs and saliva samples collected from 130 COVID-19 positive or negative ambulatory individuals, who presented symptoms suggestive of mild or moderate SARS-CoV2 infection. Results: For the nasopharyngeal swab samples, the results obtained using the 6-plex RT-ddPCR and RT-qPCR assays were all concordant. The 6-plex RT-ddPCR assay was more sensitive than RT-qPCR (85% versus 62%) on saliva samples from patients with positive nasopharyngeal swabs. Conclusion: Multiplex RT-ddPCR represents an alternative and complementary tool for the diagnosis of COVID-19, in particular to control RT-qPCR ambiguous results. It can also be applied to saliva for repetitive sampling and testing individuals for whom nasopharyngeal swabbing is not possible.