Evaluation of a quantitative RT-PCR assay for the detection of the emerging coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 using a high throughput system

Euro Surveill. 2020 Mar;25(9):2000152. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.9.2000152.

Abstract

Facing the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), high-volume respiratory testing is demanded in laboratories worldwide. We evaluated the performance of a molecular assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 on a high-throughput platform, the cobas 6800, using the 'open channel' for integration of a laboratory-developed assay. We observed good analytical performance in clinical specimens. The fully automated workflow enables high-throughput testing with minimal hands-on time, while offering fast and reliable results.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; automation; high-throughput PCR; molecular diagnostic.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques*
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus*
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome*
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus*