The importance of cycle threshold values in interpreting molecular tests for SARS-CoV-2

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020 Nov;98(3):115130. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2020.115130. Epub 2020 Jul 10.

Abstract

Using the Allplex™ 2019-nCoV assay (Seegene, South Korea), 285 samples were tested; 49 (17%) were positive for 3 genes, 4 (1.4%) samples were positive for 2 genes (all N gene and RdRP gene), 8 (3%) samples were positive for 1 gene (all N gene only), and 224 (78.5%) samples were negative.

Keywords: Coronavirus; Covid-19; PCR; SARS-CoV-2.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Betacoronavirus / genetics*
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques
  • Coronavirus Envelope Proteins
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins
  • Coronavirus RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
  • Nucleocapsid Proteins / genetics*
  • Pandemics
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / genetics*
  • Republic of Korea
  • Retrospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics*
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Coronavirus Envelope Proteins
  • Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins
  • Nucleocapsid Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins
  • envelope protein, SARS-CoV-2
  • nucleocapsid phosphoprotein, SARS-CoV-2
  • Coronavirus RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
  • NSP12 protein, SARS-CoV-2
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase