Evaluation of two automated low-cost RNA extraction protocols for SARS-CoV-2 detection

Lázaro-Perona, Fernando; Rodriguez-Antolín, Carlos; Alguacil-Guillén, Marina; Gutiérrez-Arroyo, Almudena; Mingorance, Jesús; García-Rodriguez, Julio

BACKGROUND: Two automatable in-house protocols for high-troughput RNA extraction from nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 detection have been evaluated. METHODS: One hundred forty one SARS-CoV-2 positive samples were collected during a period of 10-days. In-house protocols were based on extraction with magnetic beads and designed to be used with either the Opentrons OT-2 (OT-2(in-house)) liquid handling robot or the MagMAX(TM) Express-96 system (MM(in-house)). Both protocols were tested in parallel with a commercial kit that uses the MagMAX(TM) system (MM(kit)). Nucleic acid extraction efficiencies were calculated from a SARS-CoV-2 DNA positive control. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between both in-house protocols and the commercial kit in their performance to detect positive samples. The MM(kit) was the most efficient although the MM(in-house) presented, in average, lower Cts than the other two. In-house protocols allowed to save between 350€ and 400€ for every 96 extracted samples compared to the commercial kit. CONCLUSION: The protocols described harness the use of easily available reagents and an open-source liquid handling system and are suitable for SARS-CoV-2 detection in high throughput facilities.