RT-LAMP detection method for SARS-CoV-2
The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic is still endangering the globe since its emergence in December 2019. The authors sought to develop a feasible method to detect RNA of the causative virus, SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2), using RT-LAMP (reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification). The primers designed by the authors successfully detected in vitro transcribed RNA sequence (a portion from the surface glycoprotein coding sequence) at an estimated concentration of 16 copy per 20 μL reaction when used with fluorescence detection combined with melting curve analysis; 16 copy per 25 μL reaction when used with a real-time turbidimeter or end-point visual confirmation by the naked eye or fluorescence under UV illumination. Though not tested against actual viral RNA or clinical specimens, this method can serve as another option for rapid detection of the plague-causing virus. Taking into account the feasibility of LAMP, this method may prove its utility especially in resource-limited conditions.
