SARS-CoV-2 molecular testing and whole genome sequencing following RNA recovery from used BinaxNOW COVID-19 antigen self tests

Phuong-Vi Nguyen; Ludy Registre Carmola; Ethan Wang; Leda Bassit; Anuradha Rao; Morgan Greenleaf; Julie A Sullivan; Greg S Martin; Wilbur A Lam; Jesse J Waggoner; Anne Piantadosi

doi:10.1016/j.jcv.2023.105426

SARS-CoV-2 molecular testing and whole genome sequencing following RNA recovery from used BinaxNOW COVID-19 antigen self tests

J Clin Virol. 2023 May:162:105426. doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2023.105426. Epub 2023 Mar 24.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Emory University Department of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Center for Microsystems-Engineered Point-of-Care Technologies, Atlanta, GA, USA.
² Emory University Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
³ Atlanta Center for Microsystems-Engineered Point-of-Care Technologies, Atlanta, GA, USA; Emory University Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁴ Emory University Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁵ Atlanta Center for Microsystems-Engineered Point-of-Care Technologies, Atlanta, GA, USA; Emory University Department of Pediatrics, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁶ Atlanta Center for Microsystems-Engineered Point-of-Care Technologies, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁷ Atlanta Center for Microsystems-Engineered Point-of-Care Technologies, Atlanta, GA, USA; Emory University Department of Pediatrics, Atlanta, GA, USA; Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁸ Emory University Department of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Center for Microsystems-Engineered Point-of-Care Technologies, Atlanta, GA, USA. Electronic address: jjwaggo@emory.edu.
⁹ Emory University Department of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Center for Microsystems-Engineered Point-of-Care Technologies, Atlanta, GA, USA; Emory University Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Abstract

Widespread use of over-the-counter rapid diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 has led to a decrease in availability of clinical samples for viral genomic surveillance. As an alternative sample source, we evaluated RNA isolated from BinaxNOW swabs stored at ambient temperature for SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR and full viral genome sequencing. 81 of 103 samples (78.6%) yielded detectable RNA, and 46 of 57 samples (80.7 %) yielded complete genome sequences. Our results illustrate that SARS-CoV-2 RNA extracted from used Binax test swabs provides an important opportunity for improving SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance, evaluating transmission clusters, and monitoring within-patient evolution.

Keywords: COVID-19; RT-PCR; Rapid test; SARS-CoV-2; Sequencing.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / diagnosis
Humans
Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
RNA, Viral / analysis
RNA, Viral / genetics
SARS-CoV-2* / genetics
Whole Genome Sequencing / methods

Substances

RNA, Viral

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding