Sensitivity evaluation of 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) RT-PCR detection kits and strategy to reduce false negative

An ongoing outbreak of pneumonia associated with SARS-CoV-2 has now been confirmed globally. In absence of effective vaccines, infection prevention and control through diagnostic testing and quarantine is critical. Early detection and differential diagnosis of respiratory infections increases the chances for successful control of COVID-19 disease. The nucleic acid RT-PCR test is regarded as the current standard for molecular diagnosis with high sensitivity. However, the highest specificity confirmation target ORF1ab gene is considered to be less sensitive than other targets in clinical application. In addition, a large amount of recent evidence indicates that the initial missed diagnosis of asymptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 and discharged patients with "re-examination positive" may be due to low viral load, and the ability of rapid mutation of coronavirus also increases the rate of false negative results. We aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of different nucleic acid detection kits so as to make recommendations for the selection of validation kit, and amplify the suspicious result to be reportable positive by means of simple continuous amplification, which is of great significance for the prevention and control of the current epidemic and the discharge criteria of low viral load patients.

Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Using Reverse transcription RT-LAMP method

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a recently emerged life-threatening disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Real-time fluorescent PCR (RT-PCR) is the clinical standard for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection. To detect SARS-CoV-2 early and control the disease spreading on time, a faster and more convenient method for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detecting, RT-LAMP method (reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification) was developed. RNA reverse transcription and nucleic acid amplification were performed in one step at 63 {degrees}C isothermal conditions, and the results can be obtained within 30 minutes. ORF1ab gene, E gene and N gene were detected at the same time. ORF1ab gene was very specific and N gene was very sensitivity, so they can guarantee both sensitivity and specificity for SARS-CoV-2. The sensitivity of RT-LAMP assay is similar to RT-PCR, and specificity was 99% as detecting 208 clinical specimens. The RT-LAMP assay reported here has the advantages of rapid amplification, simple operation, and easy detection, which is useful for the rapid and reliable clinical diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2.

Antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance in China: a MOHNARIN program report (2009-2010) / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective To investigate the bacterial resistance in nationwide and understand the distribution of bacterial and resistance trend.MethodsThe 6507 clinical isolates were collected from 19 hospitals in 17 cities.The susceptibility tests were performed using agar dilution method recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) in central laboratory.The values of MIC50,MIC90 and MICrange were calculated by SPSS 17.0 and the susceptibilities of isolates to antimicrobial agents were determined by using CLSI (2010) guideline.Of all 6507 isolates,4691 strains were collected from target wards and 1816 were isolated from others wards.ResultsAmong 4691 strains,1156 were Gram-positive (24.6％ ) and 3535 were Gram-negative (75.4％).Based on the minimum inhibitory concentration results,the prevalence of methicillin resistant Stapylococcus aureus and methicillin resistant Stapylococcus epidermidis are 51.6％ ( 325/630 ) and 87.0％ ( 228/262 ) respectively.Staphylococci showing intermediate or full resistance to vancomycin were not observed. Coagulase negative Staphylococci showed 2.5％ (16/642)intermediate rate and 1.6％ ( 10/642 ) full resistance rate to teicoplanin,and showed 0.5％ ( 3/642 )resistance rate to linezolid.Antibiotic resistance rate of Enterococcus faecalis to ampicillin was 17.1％(19/111),while the resistance rate of Enterococcus faecium to ampicillin reached up to 85.0％(164/193).Three Enterococcus faecium were resistant to glycopeptides.The prevalence of penicillin resistance Streptococcus pneumoniae and penicillin intermediate Streptococcus pneumoniae were 41.2％ ( 145/352) and 37.2％ (131/352) respectively based on oral penicillin criterion,while the prevalence were 0.0％ (0/352) and 6.0％(21/352) based on vein to non-meningitis criterion.A vast majority of Enterobacteriaceae maintained high susceptibility to carbapenems,with resistance rate less than 2.0％.In addition,tigecycline,moxalactam,fosfomycin and amikacin displayed desirable antibacterial activity against Enterbacteriaceae,and resistance rates to these drugs were all less than 10.0％.For non-fermenting Gramnegative isolates,resistance rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii to imipenem were 23.1％ ( 139/601 ) and 53.5％ (419/784) respectively.Resistance rate of Acinetobacter baumannii was much higher than that during the period 2007 - 2008.Colistin,tigecycline,minocycline and fosfomycin demonstrated good antibacterial activity against Acinetobacter baumannii in vitro.Conclusions Compared with MOHNARIN 2007 -2008year surveillance results, significant increase in resistance rate of Acinetobacter baumannii was demonstrated.Resistant strains to linezolid and tigecycline were found.Bacterial resistance has been a widespread problem in our country,which requires much more attention.