Abstract
We demonstrate a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method to detect and amplify SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequences using a set of in-house designed initiators that target regions encoding the N protein. We were able to detect and amplify SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids in the range of 62 to 2 × 105 DNA copies by this straightforward method. Using synthetic SARS-CoV-2 samples and RNA extracts from patients, we demonstrate that colorimetric LAMP is a quantitative method comparable in diagnostic performance to RT-qPCR (i.e., sensitivity of 92.85% and specificity of 81.25% in a set of 44 RNA extracts from patients analyzed in a hospital setting).
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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COVID-19 / diagnosis
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COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing / methods*
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Colorimetry / methods
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Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins
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DNA / analysis
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DNA / chemistry
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Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
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Humans
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Intercalating Agents / chemistry
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Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / methods*
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Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / methods*
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Phenolsulfonphthalein / chemistry
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Phosphoproteins
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RNA / analysis*
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RNA / chemistry
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SARS-CoV-2 / chemistry*
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Viral Load / methods*
Substances
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Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins
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Fluorescent Dyes
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Intercalating Agents
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Phosphoproteins
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nucleocapsid phosphoprotein, SARS-CoV-2
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RNA
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DNA
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Phenolsulfonphthalein