Published in Journal of Clinical Virology
Background Cycle threshold (Ct) values can be used in an attempt to semiquantify results in the qualitative real-time polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) for the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The significance of Ct values in epidemiological studies and large cohorts is still unclear. Objective To monitor Ct values in a long-term study and compare the res...
Published in Journal of Clinical Virology
Background Significant overlap exists between the symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses. This poses a serious challenge to clinical diagnosis, laboratory testing, and infection control programs. Objectives To evaluate the performance of the Hologic Panther Fusion Respiratory Assays (RA) compared to the GenMark ePlex Respiratory Patho...
Published in Journal of Clinical Virology
The Roche Cobas SARS-CoV-2 test recently received an Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration UA for pooling of up to six nasopharyngeal swab samples (NPS). We evaluated the 6-pool approach on both NPS and saliva samples using 564 samples (20 positive NPS and saliva samples each and 262 negative NPS and saliva samples ...
Published in Journal of Clinical Virology
Background Rapid antigen tests (RATs) may be included in national strategies for handling the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, as they provide test results rapidly, are easily performed outside laboratories, and enable immediate contract tracing. However, before implementation further clinical evaluation of test sensitivity is warranted. Objectives To examine ...
Published in Journal of Clinical Virology
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has led to high demand of diagnostic tools. Rapid antigen detection tests have been developed and many have received regulatory acceptance such as CE IVD or FDA markings. Their performance needs to be carefully assessed. Materials and Methods 158 positive and 40 negative retrospective samples collected in saline a...
Published in Journal of Clinical Virology
Background Accurate anti-SARS-CoV-2 assays are needed to inform diagnostic, therapeutic, and public health decisions. The first manufacturer-independent head-to-head comparison of two rapid high-throughput automated electrochemiluminescence double-antigen sandwich immunoassays targeting total anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies against two different viral p...
Published in Journal of Clinical Virology
Background SARS-CoV-2 molecular diagnostics is facing material shortages and long turnaround times due to exponential increase of testing demand. Objective We evaluated the analytic performance and handling of four rapid Antigen Point of Care Tests (AgPOCTs) I-IV (Distributors: (I) Roche, (II) Abbott, (III) MEDsan and (IV) Siemens). Methods 100 RT-...
Published in Journal of Clinical Virology
Objectives Antigen rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDT) have been developed as reliable tools to control the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The objective of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of two Ag-RDTs. Methods We evaluated CerTest SARS-CoV-2 Ag One Step Card Test and Panbio COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test Device Ag-RDTs. We included 320 nasopharyng...
Published in Journal of Clinical Virology
Background Most SARS-CoV-2 infected patients develop IgG antibodies within 2–3 weeks after symptom onset. Antibody levels have been shown to gradually decrease in the first months after infection, but few data are available at six months or later. Methods A retrospective multi-center study was performed using 652 samples of 236 PCR-confirmed SARS-C...
Published in Journal of Clinical Virology
The current scale of public and private testing cannot be expected to meet the emerging need for higher levels of community-level and repeated screening of asymptomatic Canadians for SARS-CoV-2. Rapid point-of-care techniques are increasingly being offered to fill the gap in screening levels required to identify undiagnosed individuals with high vi...
