Recent advances and challenges of RT-PCR tests for the diagnosis of COVID-19.

Manoucher Teymouri, Samaneh Mollazadeh, Hamed Mortazavi, Zari Naderi Ghale-Noie, Vahideh Keyvani, Farzaneh Aghababaei, Michael R Hamblin, Ghasem Abbaszadeh-Goudarzi, Hossein Pourghadamyari, Seyed Mohammad Reza Hashemian, Hamed Mirzaei

Journal: Pathology, research and practice 2021;221():153443

PMID: 33930607

Free Full Text on PubMed Central View on PubMed

Abstract

Since the outbreak of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the control of virus spread has remained challenging given the pitfalls of the current diagnostic tests. Nevertheless, RNA amplification techniques have been the gold standard among other diagnostic methods for monitoring clinical samples for the presence of the virus. In the current paper, we review the shortcomings and strengths of RT-PCR (real-time polymerase chain reaction) techniques for diagnosis of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19. We address the repercussions of false-negative and false-positive rates encountered in the test, summarize approaches to improve the overall sensitivity of this method. We discuss the barriers to the widespread use of the RT-PCR test, and some technical advances, such as RT-LAMP (reverse-transcriptase-loop mediated isothermal amplification). We also address how other molecular techniques, such as immunodiagnostic tests can be used to avoid incorrect interpretation of RT-PCR tests.

Address: Natural Products and Medicinal Plants Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran.; Natural Products and Medicinal Plants Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran. Electronic address: [email protected].; Geriatric Care Research Center, Department of Geriatric Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran.; Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.; Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.; Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.; Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, South Africa.; Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran.; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Electronic address: [email protected].; Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center (CRDRC), National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: [email protected].; Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2021.153443