SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR with pooled specimens has been implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic as a cost- and manpower-saving strategy for large-scale testing. However, there is a paucity of data on the efficiency of different nucleic acid extraction platforms on pooled specimens. This study compared a novel automated high-throughput liquid-based RNA extraction (LRE) platform (PHASIFY™) with a widely used magnetic bead-based total nucleic acid extraction (MBTE) platform (NucliSENS ® easyMAG ® ). A total of 60 pools of nasopharyngeal swab and 60 pools of posterior oropharyngeal saliva specimens, each consisting of 1 SARS-CoV-2 positive and 9 SARS-CoV-2 negative specimens, were included for the comparison. Real-time RT-PCR targeting the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp/Hel gene was performed, and GAPDH RT-PCR was used to detect RT-PCR inhibitors. No significant differences were observed in the Ct values and overall RT-PCR positive rates between LRE and MBTE platforms (92.5% (111/120] vs. 90% (108/120]), but there was a slightly higher positive rate for LRE (88.3% (53/60]) than MBTE (81.7% (49/60]) among pooled saliva. The automated LRE method is comparable to a standard MBTE method for the detection of SAR-CoV-2 in pooled specimens, providing a suitable alternative automated extraction platform. Furthermore, LRE may be better suited for pooled saliva specimens due to more efficient removal of RT-PCR inhibitors.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Saliva, RT-PCR, diagnostics, Nasopharyngeal swab, Mass screening, liquid-based nucleic acid extraction, pooled specimens, 【초록키워드】 SAR-CoV-2, COVID-19 pandemic, RT-PCR, inhibitors, RNA extraction, Nasopharyngeal swab, nucleic acid, automated, Oropharyngeal, SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR, real-time RT-PCR, positive rate, specimens, platform, Large-scale testing, Efficiency, Ct values, paucity of data, significant difference, no significant differences, significant differences, specimen, nucleic acid extraction, positive, GAPDH, magnetic bead, saliva specimens, was used, detect, was performed, comparable, saliva specimen, the SARS-CoV-2, 【제목키워드】 RNA, extraction,