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Real-time reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2

Lau YL 1 , Ismail I 2 , Mustapa NI 2 , Lai MY 1 , Tuan Soh TS 2 , Hassan A 2 Show all authors , Peariasamy KM 3 , Lee YL 3 , Chong YM 4 , Sam IC 4 , Goh PP 5

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 2 Department of Pathology, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 3 Clinical Research Centre, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 4 Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 5 Institute for Clinical Research (ICR), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Ministry of Health Malaysia, Putrajaya, Malaysia
PeerJ, 2020;8:e9278.
PMID: 32547882 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9278

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Highly sensitive real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) methods have been developed for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. However, they are costly. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay has emerged as a novel alternative isothermal amplification method for the detection of nucleic acid.

METHODS: A rapid, sensitive and specific real-time reverse transcription LAMP (RT-LAMP) assay was developed for SARS-CoV-2 detection.

RESULTS: This assay detected one copy/reaction of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 30 min. Both the clinical sensitivity and specificity of this assay were 100%. The RT-LAMP showed comparable performance with RT-qPCR. Combining simplicity and cost-effectiveness, this assay is therefore recommended for use in resource resource-limited settings.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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