Overcoming limitations in the availability of swabs systems used for SARS-CoV-2 laboratory diagnostics
Abstract The diagnosis of COVID-19 relies on the direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in respiratory specimens by RT-PCR. The pandemic spread of the disease caused an imbalance between demand and supply of materials and reagents needed for diagnostic purposes including swab sets. In a comparative effe...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2021-01-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81782-8 |
| _version_ | 1818681210893762560 |
|---|---|
| author | Manfred Nairz Rosa Bellmann-Weiler Miriam Ladstätter Falko Schüllner Martina Zimmermann Anna-Maria Koller Silvia Blunder Helene Naschberger Werner Klotz Manfred Herold Sylvia Kerndler Martina Jeske David Haschka Verena Petzer Andrea Schroll Thomas Sonnweber Ivan Tancevski Gernot Fritsche Mariana E. G. de Araujo Taras Stasyk Lukas A. Huber Andrea Griesmacher Igor Theurl Günter Weiss |
| author_facet | Manfred Nairz Rosa Bellmann-Weiler Miriam Ladstätter Falko Schüllner Martina Zimmermann Anna-Maria Koller Silvia Blunder Helene Naschberger Werner Klotz Manfred Herold Sylvia Kerndler Martina Jeske David Haschka Verena Petzer Andrea Schroll Thomas Sonnweber Ivan Tancevski Gernot Fritsche Mariana E. G. de Araujo Taras Stasyk Lukas A. Huber Andrea Griesmacher Igor Theurl Günter Weiss |
| author_sort | Manfred Nairz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The diagnosis of COVID-19 relies on the direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in respiratory specimens by RT-PCR. The pandemic spread of the disease caused an imbalance between demand and supply of materials and reagents needed for diagnostic purposes including swab sets. In a comparative effectiveness study, we conducted serial follow-up swabs in hospitalized laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients. We assessed the diagnostic performance of an in-house system developed according to recommendations by the US CDC. In a total of 96 serial swabs, we found significant differences in the accuracy of the different swab systems to generate a positive result in SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR, ranging from around 50 to 80%. Of note, an in-house swab system was superior to most commercially available sets as reflected by significantly lower Ct values of viral genes. Thus, a simple combination of broadly available materials may enable diagnostic laboratories to bypass global limitations in the supply of swab sets. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T09:59:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c56c694f023548f3a8774472903a47bc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T09:59:20Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-c56c694f023548f3a8774472903a47bc2022-12-21T21:53:21ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-01-011111910.1038/s41598-021-81782-8Overcoming limitations in the availability of swabs systems used for SARS-CoV-2 laboratory diagnosticsManfred Nairz0Rosa Bellmann-Weiler1Miriam Ladstätter2Falko Schüllner3Martina Zimmermann4Anna-Maria Koller5Silvia Blunder6Helene Naschberger7Werner Klotz8Manfred Herold9Sylvia Kerndler10Martina Jeske11David Haschka12Verena Petzer13Andrea Schroll14Thomas Sonnweber15Ivan Tancevski16Gernot Fritsche17Mariana E. G. de Araujo18Taras Stasyk19Lukas A. Huber20Andrea Griesmacher21Igor Theurl22Günter Weiss23Department of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of InnsbruckDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of InnsbruckHospital Pharmacy, University Hospital of InnsbruckHospital Pharmacy, University Hospital of InnsbruckDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of InnsbruckDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of InnsbruckDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of InnsbruckDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of InnsbruckDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of InnsbruckDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of InnsbruckHospital Pharmacy, University Hospital of InnsbruckHospital Pharmacy, University Hospital of InnsbruckDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of InnsbruckDepartment of Internal Medicine V, Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of InnsbruckDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of InnsbruckDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of InnsbruckDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of InnsbruckDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of InnsbruckInstitute of Cell Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of InnsbruckInstitute of Cell Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of InnsbruckInstitute of Cell Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of InnsbruckCentral Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, University Hospital of InnsbruckDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of InnsbruckDepartment of Internal Medicine II, Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology, Pneumology, Medical University of InnsbruckAbstract The diagnosis of COVID-19 relies on the direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in respiratory specimens by RT-PCR. The pandemic spread of the disease caused an imbalance between demand and supply of materials and reagents needed for diagnostic purposes including swab sets. In a comparative effectiveness study, we conducted serial follow-up swabs in hospitalized laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients. We assessed the diagnostic performance of an in-house system developed according to recommendations by the US CDC. In a total of 96 serial swabs, we found significant differences in the accuracy of the different swab systems to generate a positive result in SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR, ranging from around 50 to 80%. Of note, an in-house swab system was superior to most commercially available sets as reflected by significantly lower Ct values of viral genes. Thus, a simple combination of broadly available materials may enable diagnostic laboratories to bypass global limitations in the supply of swab sets.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81782-8 |
| spellingShingle | Manfred Nairz Rosa Bellmann-Weiler Miriam Ladstätter Falko Schüllner Martina Zimmermann Anna-Maria Koller Silvia Blunder Helene Naschberger Werner Klotz Manfred Herold Sylvia Kerndler Martina Jeske David Haschka Verena Petzer Andrea Schroll Thomas Sonnweber Ivan Tancevski Gernot Fritsche Mariana E. G. de Araujo Taras Stasyk Lukas A. Huber Andrea Griesmacher Igor Theurl Günter Weiss Overcoming limitations in the availability of swabs systems used for SARS-CoV-2 laboratory diagnostics Scientific Reports |
| title | Overcoming limitations in the availability of swabs systems used for SARS-CoV-2 laboratory diagnostics |
| title_full | Overcoming limitations in the availability of swabs systems used for SARS-CoV-2 laboratory diagnostics |
| title_fullStr | Overcoming limitations in the availability of swabs systems used for SARS-CoV-2 laboratory diagnostics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Overcoming limitations in the availability of swabs systems used for SARS-CoV-2 laboratory diagnostics |
| title_short | Overcoming limitations in the availability of swabs systems used for SARS-CoV-2 laboratory diagnostics |
| title_sort | overcoming limitations in the availability of swabs systems used for sars cov 2 laboratory diagnostics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81782-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT manfrednairz overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT rosabellmannweiler overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT miriamladstatter overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT falkoschullner overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT martinazimmermann overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT annamariakoller overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT silviablunder overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT helenenaschberger overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT wernerklotz overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT manfredherold overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT sylviakerndler overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT martinajeske overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT davidhaschka overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT verenapetzer overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT andreaschroll overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT thomassonnweber overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT ivantancevski overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT gernotfritsche overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT marianaegdearaujo overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT tarasstasyk overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT lukasahuber overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT andreagriesmacher overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT igortheurl overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics AT gunterweiss overcominglimitationsintheavailabilityofswabssystemsusedforsarscov2laboratorydiagnostics |