Detection of the new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 in five SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests (RATs), Germany, March 2021
Sabrina Jungnick, Bernhard Hobmaier, Lena Mautner, Mona Hoyos, Maren Haase, Armin Baiker, Heidi Lahne, Ute Eberle, Clara Wimmer, Sabrina Hepner, Annika Sprenger, Carola Berger, Alexandra Dangel, Manfred Wildner, Bernhard Liebl, Nikolaus Ackermann, Andreas Sing, Volker Fingerle
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) should not escape molecular surveillance. We investigated if SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests (RATs) could detect B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 VOCs in certain laboratory conditions. Infectious cell culture supernatants containing B.1.1.7, B.1.351 or non-VOC SARS-CoV-2 were respectively diluted both in DMEM and saliva. Dilutions were analysed with Roche, Siemens, Abbott, nal von minden and RapiGEN RATs. While further studies with appropriate real-life clinical samples are warranted, all RATs detected B.1.1.7 and B.1.351, generally comparable to non-VOC strain.