Variable sensitivity in molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 in European Expert Laboratories: External Quality Assessment, June - July 2020.
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Fischer C, Mögling R, Melidou A, Kühne A, Oliveira-Filho EF, Wolff T, Reiche J, Broberg E, Meijer A, Leitmeyer K, Drexler JF, Reusken CBEM
J Clin Microbiol - (-) - [2020-12-09; online 2020-12-09]
Objective: During the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, robust detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a key element for clinical management and to interrupt transmission chains. We organized an external quality assessment (EQA) of molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 for European expert laboratories.Study design: An EQA panel composed of 12 samples, containing either SARS-CoV-2 at different concentrations to evaluate sensitivity or other respiratory viruses to evaluate specificity of SARS-CoV-2 testing, was distributed to 68 laboratories in 35 countries. Specificity samples included seasonal human coronaviruses hCoV-229E, hCoV-NL63 and hCoV-OC43, as well as MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV and human influenza virus A and B.Conclusion: Sensitivity was variable among laboratories, particularly for low concentration SARS-CoV-2 samples. Results indicated that performance was mostly independent of the selection of specific extraction or PCR methods.
PubMed 33298612
DOI 10.1128/JCM.02676-20
Crossref 10.1128/JCM.02676-20
pii: JCM.02676-20