SARS-CoV-2 Detection Methods

Abstract

A fast and highly specific detection of COVID-19 infections is essential in managing the virus dissemination networks. The most relevant technologies developed for SARS-CoV-2 detection, along with their advantages and limitations, will be presented and fully explored. Additionally, some of the newest and emerging COVID-19 diagnosis tools, such as biosensing platforms, will also be introduced. Considering the extreme relevance that all these technologies assume in pandemic control, it is of the utmost relevance to have an intrinsic knowledge of the parameters that need to be taken into consideration before choosing the most adequate test for a particular situation. Moreover, the new variants of the virus and their potential impact on the detection method’s effectiveness will be discussed. In order to better manage the pandemic, it is essential to maintain continuous research into the SARS-CoV-2 genome and updated genomic surveillance at the global level. This will allow for timely detection of new mutations and viral variants, which may affect the performance of COVID-19 detection tests.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Using Reverse Transcription Helicase Dependent Amplification and Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Amplification Combined with Lateral Flow Assay

“…The RT-LAMP and RT-HDA developed in our study have a multiplex format, which reduces the risk of false negatives because even if a mutation occurs in one target gene the second target gene can still be detected. Additionally, the sensitivity of RT-HDA and RT-LAMP is higher and has been estimated 100% for both methods in our study, whereas the reported sensitivity of antigen tests is 56.2% with 27.9% of false negatives [ 7 ]. Table 6 presents a summary of LFA-based tests analyzed by Zhang et al [ 2 ].…”

“…Although they are easy to perform, the tests have major limitations, which have been overcome by LFA combined with nucleic acid amplification tests. For example, the antibody and antigen LFA tests rely on the detection of only one SARS-CoV-2 protein, which may lead to false negatives, especially when some mutations occurs [ 7 ]. The RT-LAMP and RT-HDA developed in our study have a multiplex format, which reduces the risk of false negatives because even if a mutation occurs in one target gene the second target gene can still be detected.…”

“…However, sequencing is not recommended for large-scale testing in emergency situations because it is an expensive and slow approach, and very experienced personnel are needed to perform the test and interpret the results. However, the application of sequencing is crucial for the detection new mutations and new variants of SARS-CoV-2 [ 6 , 7 ].…”

A DNA biosensors-based microfluidic platform for attomolar real-time detection of unamplified SARS-CoV-2 virus

“…However, only one target can be implemented in each assay, thus limiting the accuracy of the test. In addition, optimization of primers remains challenging ( Lino et al, 2022 ). CRISPR-based diagnostics enabled the development of multiplexed and portable nucleic acid detection devices based on several Cas enzymes for the identification of human viruses, and was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for COVID-19 screening ( Javalkote et al, 2022 ).…”

Development and Application of an SPR Nanobiosensor Based on AuNPs for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 on Food Surfaces

“…There are four potential methods that can be employed to detect SARS-CoV-2, such as RT-LAMP, CRISPR–Cas, biosensors, and sequencing [ 13 ]. The virus concentration found in individuals and, especially, in food is relatively low, requiring prior amplification for detection.…”