Rapid, high-throughput diagnostic tests are essential to decelerate the spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. While RT-PCR tests performed in centralized laboratories remain the gold standard, rapid point-of-care antigen tests might provide faster results. However, they are associated with markedly reduced sensitivity. Bedside breath gas analysis of volatile organic compounds detected by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) may enable a quick and sensitive point-of-care testing alternative. In this proof-of-concept study, we investigated whether gas analysis by IMS can discriminate severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from other respiratory viruses in an experimental set-up. Repeated gas analyses of air samples collected from the headspace of virus-infected in vitro cultures were performed for 5 days. A three-step decision tree using the intensities of four spectrometry peaks correlating to unidentified volatile organic compounds allowed the correct classification of SARS-CoV-2, human coronavirus-NL63, and influenza A virus H1N1 without misassignment when the calculation was performed with data 3 days post infection. The forward selection assignment model allowed the identification of SARS-CoV-2 with high sensitivity and specificity, with only one of 231 measurements (0.43%) being misclassified. Thus, volatile organic compound analysis by IMS allows highly accurate differentiation of SARS-CoV-2 from other respiratory viruses in an experimental set-up, supporting further research and evaluation in clinical studies.
【저자키워드】 viral infection, Biomarkers, Predictive markers, Analytical chemistry, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, coronavirus disease, viruses, SARS-CoV-2, Coronavirus disease 2019, coronavirus, pandemic, Influenza, diagnostic test, influenza A virus, in vitro, novel coronavirus disease, severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus, influenza A, Novel coronavirus, Laboratory, Antigen, respiratory viruses, Spread, point-of-care, sensitivity, Culture, Sensitivity and specificity, diagnostic tests, breath, Research, Rapid, gold, Clinical studies, H1N1, Decision tree, respiratory, RT-PCR test, Analysis, Other respiratory viruses, organic compounds, intensity, RT-PCR tests, acute respiratory syndrome, organic compound, gas analysis, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, gold standard, Compound, calculation, intensities, while, human coronavirus, performed, collected, investigated, was performed, reduced, faster, days post infection, other respiratory virus, IMS, 【제목키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, in vitro, Culture,