Open AccessA direct RT-qPCR approach to test large numbers of individuals for SARS-CoV-2
Author(s) -
Tomislav Maričić,
Olaf Nickel,
Ayinuer AximuPetri,
Elena Essel,
Marie Gansauge,
Philipp Kanis,
Dominik Macak,
Julia Richter,
Stephan Riesenberg,
Lukas Bokelmann,
Hugo Zeberg,
Matthias Meyer,
Stephan Borte,
Svante Pääbo
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0244824
Subject(s) - covid-19 , transmission (telecommunications) , asymptomatic , medicine , nursing homes , infection control , test (biology) , virology , pandemic , personal protective equipment , emergency medicine , environmental health , intensive care medicine , biology , nursing , computer science , disease , outbreak , infectious disease (medical specialty) , telecommunications , paleontology
SARS-CoV-2 causes substantial morbidity and mortality in elderly and immunocompromised individuals, particularly in retirement homes, where transmission from asymptomatic staff and visitors may introduce the infection. Here we present a cheap and fast screening method based on direct RT-qPCR to detect SARS-CoV-2 in single or pooled gargle lavages (“mouthwashes”). This method detects individuals with large viral loads (Ct≤29) and we use it to test all staff at a nursing home daily over a period of three weeks in order to reduce the risk that the infection penetrates the facility. This or similar approaches can be implemented to protect hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions in this and future viral epidemics.