A blueprint for academic laboratories to produce SARS-CoV-2 quantitative RT-PCR test kits [RNA]
Widespread testing for the presence of the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals remains vital for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic prior to the advent of an effective treatment. Challenges in testing can be traced to an initial shortage of supplies, expertise, and/or instrumentation necessary to detect the virus by quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR), the most robust, sensitive, and specific assay currently available. Here we show that academic biochemistry and molecular biology laboratories equipped with appropriate expertise and infrastructure can replicate commercially available SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR test kits and backfill pipeline shortages. The Georgia Tech COVID-19 Test Kit Support Group, composed of faculty, staff, and trainees across the biotechnology quad at Georgia Institute of Technology, synthesized multiplexed primers and probes and formulated a master mix composed of enzymes and proteins produced in-house. Our in-house kit compares favorably with a commercial product used for diagnostic testing. We also developed an environmental testing protocol to readily monitor surfaces for the presence of SARS-CoV-2. Our blueprint should be readily reproducible by research teams at other institutions, and our protocols may be modified and adapted to enable SARS-CoV-2 detection in more resource-limited settings.
Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry - Category: Chemistry Authors: Samantha J. Mascuch, Sara Fakhretaha–Aval, Jessica C. Bowman, Minh Thu H. Ma, Gwendell Thomas, Bettina Bommarius, Chieri Ito, Liangȷun Zhao, Gary P. Newnam, Kavita R. Matange, Hem R. Thapa, Brett Barlow, Rebecca K. Donegan, Nguyet A. Nguyen, Tags: Editors ' Picks Source Type: research
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