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Wozniak A, Cerda A, Ibarra-Henríquez C, Sebastian V, Armijo G, Lamig L, Miranda C, Lagos M, Solari S, Guzmán AM, Quiroga T, Hitschfeld S, Riveras E, Ferrés M, Gutiérrez RA, García P. A simple RNA preparation method for SARS-CoV-2 detection by RT-qPCR. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16608. [PMID: 33024174 PMCID: PMC7538882 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73616-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The technique RT-qPCR for viral RNA detection is the current worldwide strategy used for early detection of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. RNA extraction is a key pre-analytical step in RT-qPCR, often achieved using commercial kits. However, the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic is causing disruptions to the global supply chains used by many diagnostic laboratories to procure the commercial kits required for RNA extraction. Shortage in these essential reagents is even more acute in developing countries with no means to produce kits locally. We sought to find an alternative procedure to replace commercial kits using common reagents found in molecular biology laboratories. Here we report a method for RNA extraction that takes about 40 min to complete ten samples, and is not more laborious than current commercial RNA extraction kits. We demonstrate that this method can be used to process nasopharyngeal swab samples and yields RT-qPCR results comparable to those obtained with commercial kits. Most importantly, this procedure can be easily implemented in any molecular diagnostic laboratory. Frequent testing is crucial for individual patient management as well as for public health decision making in this pandemic. Implementation of this method could maintain crucial testing going despite commercial kit shortages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniela Wozniak
- Department Clinical Laboratories, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Vicuña Mackenna 4686, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ariel Cerda
- Department Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Libertador Bernardo O`Higgins 340, Santiago, Chile
| | - Catalina Ibarra-Henríquez
- Department Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Libertador Bernardo O`Higgins 340, Santiago, Chile
| | - Valentina Sebastian
- Laboratorio de Microbiología. Servicio de Laboratorios Clínicos. Red de Salud UC-CHRISTUS, Santiago, Chile
| | - Grace Armijo
- Department Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Libertador Bernardo O`Higgins 340, Santiago, Chile
| | - Liliana Lamig
- Department Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Libertador Bernardo O`Higgins 340, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carolina Miranda
- Laboratorio de Microbiología. Servicio de Laboratorios Clínicos. Red de Salud UC-CHRISTUS, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marcela Lagos
- Department Clinical Laboratories, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Vicuña Mackenna 4686, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sandra Solari
- Department Clinical Laboratories, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Vicuña Mackenna 4686, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ana María Guzmán
- Department Clinical Laboratories, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Vicuña Mackenna 4686, Santiago, Chile
| | - Teresa Quiroga
- Department Clinical Laboratories, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Vicuña Mackenna 4686, Santiago, Chile
| | - Susan Hitschfeld
- Department Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Libertador Bernardo O`Higgins 340, Santiago, Chile
| | - Eleodoro Riveras
- Department Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Libertador Bernardo O`Higgins 340, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marcela Ferrés
- Department Clinical Laboratories, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Vicuña Mackenna 4686, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento Enfermedades Infecciosas e Inmunología Pediátrica, Escuela Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo A Gutiérrez
- Department Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Libertador Bernardo O`Higgins 340, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Patricia García
- Department Clinical Laboratories, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Vicuña Mackenna 4686, Santiago, Chile.
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