Diagnostic performances of four commercially available assays for the identification of SARS-CoV-2, influenza type A/B virus and RSV

• Published in: Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease Vol. 106; no. 4; p. 115970
• Main Authors: Houwen, Cindy, van Lisdonk, Nico, Bolier, Jelle, van Eekeren, Michelle, van Gaalen, Mandy, van Herk, Aline, Paula, Zaïd, Peters, Natasja, den Reijer, Martijn, Mertens, Kelly, Thai, Khoa T.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.08.2023
• Subjects: Comparison; COVID-19; COVID-19 - diagnosis; COVID-19 Testing; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine - genetics; Humans; Influenza A virus - genetics; Influenza, Human - diagnosis; Nasopharynx; Original; RNA, Viral - genetics; RT-PCR; RT-TMA; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 - genetics; Sensitivity and Specificity; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Comparison; RT-PCR; RT-TMA
• ISSN: 0732-8893; 1879-0070; 1879-0070
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2023.115970

•Three Seegene Allplex™ Assays and a Hologic Aptima™ Assay were evaluated.•Excellent performances were shown for SARS-CoV-2, Influenza type A/B virus and RSV.•The extraction-free and LAMP assays allow increased testing capacity/productivity.•TTime is a new result parameter, which may be used as a surrogate for Ct-value. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of 4 commercially NAAT for detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA, Influenza type A/B virus and RSV. Included tests were the Allplex™ SARS-CoV-2 fast PCR Assay (RNA extraction-free), Allplex™ RV Master Assay, Allplex™ SARS-CoV-2 fast MDx Assay (LAMP) and Aptima™ SARS-CoV-2/Flu Assay (RT-TMA). The assays’ performance characteristics were determined using nasopharyngeal swabs from 270 patients with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection. A total of 215 SARS-CoV-2 positive, 55 negative nasopharyngeal swabs and 19 bacteria strains were included. The sensitivities and specificities for detecting SARS-CoV-2, Influenza type A virus and RSV ranged between 81.8% and 100% with extremely good agreements (κ ≥ 86.8 %). The Aptima™ SARS-CoV-2/Flu Assay introduced a new result parameter, that is, TTime. Here, we showed that TTime may be used as a surrogate for Ct-value. We concluded that all assays assessed in this study can be used for routine detection of SARS-CoV-2, Influenza type A virus and RSV.