Enhanced rapid commercial DNA extraction kit for the molecular detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2: Easy adaptation to current protocols

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Rômulo Pessoa-e-Silva, Priscilla Stela Santana de Oliveira, Sayonara Maria Calado Gonçalves, Klarissa Miranda Guarines, Lidiane Vasconcelos do Nascimento Carvalho, Maria Andreza Bezerra Correia, Michelle Melgarejo da Rosa, Moacyr Jesus Barreto de Melo Rêgo, Maira Galdino da Rocha Pitta, Michelly Cristiny Pereira
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2021
• Subjects: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Rapid extraction protocol; RT-qPCR; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0270-2021; https://doaj.org/article/14177937e3f348098b611695464c6043

Abstract INTRODUCTION Herein, the authors describe a simple enhancement to a commercial rapid DNA extraction kit based on simple viral lysis for detecting COVID-19 via RT-qPCR. METHODS After testing several different modifications, the adapted protocol with the best results in preliminary experiments was statistically evaluated in comparison with an automated robotic protocol. RESULTS Processing and testing of 119 nasopharyngeal samples ultimately yielded near-perfect agreement with the automated protocol (κ = 0.981 [95% confidence interval 0.943-1.000]). CONCLUSIONS The low cost and rapidity of the enhanced protocol makes it suitable for adoption in laboratories diagnosing COVID-19, especially those with high demand for examinations.