Investigation of compatibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 reverse transcriptase-PCR kits containing different gene targets during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

Sarıgül, Figen; Doluca, Osman; Akhan, Sıla; Sayan, Murat

AIM: In the diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) technique is often used. We evaluated the compatibility of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR kits containing different gene targets during the pandemic. MATERIALS & METHODS: Samples were tested by Bio-Speddy(®) (RdRp gene) and Diagnovital(®) (RdRp + E genes). The correlation between two assays were determined by Deming regression analysis and chi-square analyses. RESULTS: Diagnovital PCR kit showed amplification in a narrow Ct range and conveniently sharper exponential amplification curves than Bio-Speedy PCR kit. While the correlation between the findings of the two kits was apparent even with single gene target, this correlation increased when a secondary biomarker was added to the correlation calculations. CONCLUSION: We have observed high correlation between different PCR kits, however, using different PCR kits during the pandemic may provide a more accurate diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, since despite correlation there are a number of patients showing contradicting diagnosis.