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SARS-CoV-2 Testing in the Community: Testing Positive Samples with the TaqMan SARS-CoV-2 Mutation Panel To Find Variants in Real Time.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Ashford, Fiona 
Best, Angus 
Dunn, Steven J 
Ahmed, Zahra 
Siddiqui, Henna 

Abstract

Genome sequencing is a powerful tool for identifying SARS-CoV-2 variant lineages; however, there can be limitations due to sequence dropout when used to identify specific key mutations. Recently, ThermoFisher Scientific has developed genotyping assays to help bridge the gap between testing capacity and sequencing capability to generate real-time genotyping results based on specific variants. Over a 6-week period during the months of April and May 2021, we set out to assess the ThermoFisher TaqMan mutation panel genotyping assay, initially for three mutations of concern and then for an additional two mutations of concern, against SARS-CoV-2-positive clinical samples and the corresponding COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK) sequencing data. We demonstrate that genotyping is a powerful in-depth technique for identifying specific mutations, is an excellent complement to genome sequencing, and has real clinical health value potential, allowing laboratories to report and take action on variants of concern much more quickly.

Description

Keywords

PCR, SARS-CoV-2, SNPs, genome sequencing, genotyping, real time, variants of concern, COVID-19, COVID-19 Testing, Humans, Mutation, SARS-CoV-2

Journal Title

J Clin Microbiol

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0095-1137
1098-660X

Volume Title

Publisher

American Society for Microbiology
Sponsorship
MRC (MC_PC_19027)
UK Research and Innovation (MC_PC_19027)
British Heart Foundation (None)
British Heart Foundation (CH/12/2/29428)
British Heart Foundation (RG/18/13/33946)