Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification as a Promising Method for Mass COVID-19 Diagnostics

J A Makarova; K A Fomicheva; A I Osipyants; M Yu Shkurnikov; A A Pokryshchenko; E A Tonevitsky; V I Vechorko

doi:10.1134/S0003683821080032

Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification as a Promising Method for Mass COVID-19 Diagnostics

Appl Biochem Microbiol. 2021;57(8):845-850. doi: 10.1134/S0003683821080032. Epub 2021 Dec 14.

Authors

J A Makarova¹, K A Fomicheva², A I Osipyants^{2

3}, M Yu Shkurnikov², A A Pokryshchenko¹, E A Tonevitsky⁴, V I Vechorko⁵

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Higher School of Economics National Research University, 101000 Moscow, Russia.
² Hertsen Moscow Oncology Research Institute, National Center of Medical Radiological Research, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 125284 Moscow, Russia.
³ Far Eastern Federal University, 690091 Vladivostok, Russia.
⁴ Development Fund, Mendeleev Valley, Innovative Scientific and Technological Center, 125480 Moscow, Russia.
⁵ Filatov City Clinical Hospital no. 15, Department of Health of Moscow, 111539 Moscow, Russia.

Abstract

Real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is currently the most popular method for early COVID-19 diagnostics. However, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is superior to real-time RT-PCR in rapidity and simplicity, since it does not require expensive laboratory equipment and trained personnel. LAMP-based diagnostic kits for COVID-19 testing already exist, but corresponding tests are not yet widely available. The method has great potential for mass application. Here, we discuss the technical and methodological aspects of its widespread adoption.

Keywords: COVID-19; LAMP; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; diagnostics; loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

© Pleiades Publishing, Inc. 2021, ISSN 0003-6838, Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2021, Vol. 57, No. 8, pp. 845–850. © Pleiades Publishing, Inc., 2021.Russian Text © The Author(s), 2020, published in Biotekhnologiya, 2020, Vol. 36, No. 5, pp. 6–12.