Development and Evaluation of AccuPower COVID-19 Multiplex Real-Time RT-PCR Kit and AccuPower SARS-CoV-2 Multiplex Real-Time RT-PCR Kit for SARS-CoV-2 Detection in Sputum, NPS/OPS, Saliva and Pooled Samples

PLoS One. 2022 Feb 10;17(2):e0263341. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263341. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Rapid and accurate detection of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is essential for the successful control of the current global COVID-19 pandemic. The real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (Real-time RT-PCR) is the most widely used detection technique. This research describes the development of two novel multiplex real-time RT-PCR kits, AccuPower® COVID-19 Multiplex Real-Time RT-PCR Kit (NCVM) specifically designed for use with the ExiStation™48 system (comprised of ExiPrep™48 Dx and Exicycler™96 by BIONEER, Korea) for sample RNA extraction and PCR detection, and AccuPower® SARS-CoV-2 Multiplex Real-Time RT-PCR Kit (SCVM) designed to be compatible with manufacturers' on-market PCR instruments. The limit of detection (LoD) of NCVM was 120 copies/mL and the LoD of the SCVM was 2 copies/μL for both the Pan-sarbecovirus gene and the SARS-CoV-2 gene. The AccuPower® kits demonstrated high precision with no cross reactivity to other respiratory-related microorganisms. The clinical performance of AccuPower® kits was evaluated using the following clinical samples: sputum and nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swab (NPS/OPS) samples. Overall agreement of the AccuPower® kits with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved emergency use authorized commercial kit (STANDARD™ M nCoV Real-Time Detection kit, SD BIOSENSOR, Korea) was above 95% (Cohen's kappa coefficient ≥ 0.95), with a sensitivity of over 95%. The NPS/OPS specimen pooling experiment was conducted to verify the usability of AccuPower® kits on pooled samples and the results showed greater than 90% agreement with individual NPS/OPS samples. The clinical performance of AccuPower® kits with saliva samples was also compared with NPS/OPS samples and demonstrated over 95% agreement (Cohen's kappa coefficient > 0.95). This study shows the BIONEER NCVM and SCVM assays are comparable with the current standard confirmation assay and are suitable for effective clinical management and control of SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / virology*
  • Cross Reactions
  • Humans
  • Limit of Detection
  • Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction*
  • Nasopharynx / virology*
  • Oropharynx / virology*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / genetics*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / isolation & purification*
  • Saliva / virology*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sputum / virology*

Grants and funding

Initials of the authors who received each award: MJ Kim Grant numbers awarded to each author: HI20C2557000020 The full name of each funder: Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) URL of each funder website: https://www.htdream.kr/ The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.