Real-time PCR-based SARS-CoV-2 detection in Canadian laboratories
Jason J. LeBlanc, Jonathan B. Gubbay, Yan Li, Robert Needle, Sandra Radons Arneson, D Marcino, Hugues Charest, Guillaume Desnoyers, Kerry Dust, Ramzi Fattouh, Richard Garceau, Gregory German, Todd F. Hatchette, Robert Kozak, Mel Krajden, Theodore I. Kuschak, Amanda Lang, Paul N. Levett, Tony Mazzulli, Ryan McDonald, Samira Mubareka, Natalie Prystajecky, Candy Rutherford, Marek Smieja, Yang Yu, George Zahariadis, Nathan Zelyas, Nathalie Bastien
Abstract
With emergence of pandemic COVID-19, rapid and accurate diagnostic testing is essential. This study compared laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Canadian hospital and public health laboratories, and some commercially available real-time RT-PCR assays. Overall, analytical sensitivities were equivalent between LDTs and most commercially available methods.