S-variant SARS-CoV-2 is associated with significantly higher viral loads in samples tested by ThermoFisher TaqPath RT-QPCR

• DOI: 10.1101/2020.12.24.20248834
• Publication Date: 2020-12-27T09:55:10Z
• Authors: Michael Kidd; Alex Richter; Angus Best; Jeremy Mirza; Benita Percival; Megan Mayhew; Oliver Megram; Fiona Ashford; Thomas White; Emma Moles-Garcia; Liam Crawford; Andrew Bosworth; Tim Plant; Alan McNally
• Keywords: Dropout (neural networks)

Abstract Birmingham University Turnkey laboratory is part of the Lighthouse network responsible for testing clinical samples under UK government ‘ Test & Trace’ scheme. Samples are analysed presence SARS-CoV-2 in respiratory using Thermofisher TaqPath RT-QPCR test, which designed to co-amplify sections three viral genes. Since more recent information became available regarding variants concern (S-VoC), can show a suboptimal profile tests such as ThermoFisher used at majority laboratories, we recently published data trends and significance S-gene ‘dropout’ variant. Results showed that: population dropout had significantly lower median Ct values ORF N-gene targets compared where was detected on basis, clustered around very low N linked individual that were clearly associated with an S-dropout characteristic when conservatively inferring relative load from values, approximately 35% high loads between 10 10,000-fold greater than 1 × 6 , 10% S-positive samples. This analysis suggests patients whose exhibit test likely have time sampling. The relevance this epidemiological reports fast spread regions discussed.