Reverse transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) as a user-friendly system to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection: a multicentric study

New Microbiol. 2021 Jul;44(3):181-183.

Abstract

Although reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR remains the gold standard to perform viral detection, reverse transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) is already used to perform diagnosis of various infections. This work reports the results of a multicentric study performed in Sicily to evaluate the diagnostic power of an RT-LAMP kit for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection on a total of 551 samples collected in January and February 2021, revealing sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values ≥95%. Our results suggest the potential employment of this kit as a screening test to be used where fast and reliable results are demanded without the need for expensive instruments and highly-skilled personnel.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
  • Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques
  • RNA, Viral
  • RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • SARS-CoV-2*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • RNA, Viral
  • RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase

Supplementary concepts

  • LAMP assay