Fast and cost-effective screening for SARS-CoV-2 variants in a routine diagnostic setting

Jürgen Durner; Siegfried Burggraf; Ludwig Czibere; Arman Tehrani; David C Watts; Marc Becker

doi:10.1016/j.dental.2021.01.015

Fast and cost-effective screening for SARS-CoV-2 variants in a routine diagnostic setting

Dent Mater. 2021 Mar;37(3):e95-e97. doi: 10.1016/j.dental.2021.01.015. Epub 2021 Jan 29.

Authors

Jürgen Durner¹, Siegfried Burggraf², Ludwig Czibere², Arman Tehrani², David C Watts³, Marc Becker⁴

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory Becker & Colleagues, Führichstr. 70, 81671 Munich, Germany; Department of Operative/Restorative Dentistry, Periodontology and Pedodontics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Goethestr. 70, 80336 Munich, Germany. Electronic address: juergen.durner@med.uni-muenchen.de.
² Laboratory Becker & Colleagues, Führichstr. 70, 81671 Munich, Germany.
³ School of Medical Sciences and Photon Science Institute, University of Manchester, UK.
⁴ Laboratory Becker & Colleagues, Führichstr. 70, 81671 Munich, Germany; Department of Operative/Restorative Dentistry, Periodontology and Pedodontics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Goethestr. 70, 80336 Munich, Germany.

Abstract

Objective: The aim is to recommend a fast and cost-effective screening procedure for UK/SA SARS-CoV-2 variants in a routing diagnostic setting.

Methods: A rapid procedure using qPCR is described to provide clinicians with information about the two currently most prevalent variants (B1.1.7 and B1.351) that harbour receptor binding domain mutation N501Y. The N501Y specific assay only delivers an amplification signal if the Y501 variant is present.

Results: 436 samples initially screened positive for SARS-CoV-2 were randomly selected. Only one of these samples showed a fluorescence signal increase indicative for the Y501 variant. The remaining 435 samples had a melting peak at 54 °C indicating the N501 wildtype.

Significance: The screening of a broad population base can still be performed with the established test system. In case of a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 and corresponding clinical and anamnestic indications, a second qPCR for the mutation N501Y can follow and deliver the result to public health authorities and to the treating physician within a few hours.

Keywords: N501Y; PCR; SARS-CoV-2 mutations; South Africa; United Kingdom.

MeSH terms

COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19*
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Humans
SARS-CoV-2*