Delayed Laboratory Response to COVID-19 Caused by Molecular Diagnostic Contamination

Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Aug;26(8):1944-1946. doi: 10.3201/eid2608.201843. Epub 2020 May 20.

Abstract

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) created an exceptional situation in which numerous laboratories in Europe simultaneously implemented SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics. These laboratories reported in February 2020 that commercial primer and probe batches for SARS-CoV-2 detection were contaminated with synthetic control material, causing delays of regional testing roll-out in various countries.

Keywords: COVID-19; Europe; PCR; SARS-CoV-2; commercial nucleotide production; contamination; coronavirus disease; coronaviruses; delayed laboratory response; molecular diagnostics; primers; probes; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Artifacts*
  • Betacoronavirus / genetics*
  • Betacoronavirus / pathogenicity
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques / methods
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques / standards*
  • Coronavirus Envelope Proteins
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • DNA Primers / analysis
  • DNA Primers / chemical synthesis
  • DNA Probes / analysis
  • DNA Probes / chemical synthesis
  • Delayed Diagnosis
  • Diagnostic Tests, Routine
  • Europe / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Laboratories / organization & administration
  • Laboratories / standards
  • Pandemics
  • Pathology, Molecular
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / genetics
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / standards*
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / supply & distribution
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / standards*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / statistics & numerical data
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Coronavirus Envelope Proteins
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA Probes
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • envelope protein, SARS-CoV-2
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase