Massive and rapid COVID-19 testing is feasible by extraction-free SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR

Ioanna Smyrlaki; Martin Ekman; Martin Vondracek; Natali Papanicoloau; Antonio Lentini; Johan Aarum; Shaman Muradrasoli; Jan Albert; Björn Högberg; Björn Reinius

We determined RT-qPCR inhibition profiles of different transport media, as well as optimal amount of reaction input of nasopharyngeal swab samples (Fig. 2) . Further effort should be invested in similar characterization of many more brands and types of transport media in circulation. We propose that characterization of RT and PCR inhibition should become a standard (requirement) for commercial viral and bacterial transport media in the future, as to assist direct testing in forthcoming epidemics. In the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we question whether it is at all suitable to deposit COVID-19 samples in conventional transport medium, and we instead suggest that the swab material should be collected in a buffer that does not inhibit RT-qPCR -especially as further viral culturing in lab is not meaningful for the vast majority of samples.