Applicability of a colorimetric reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for SARS-CoV-2 detection in high exposure risk setting
Issued Date
2023-03-01
Resource Type
ISSN
12019712
eISSN
18783511
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85146903054
Pubmed ID
36642206
Journal Title
International Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume
128
Start Page
285
End Page
289
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
International Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol.128 (2023) , 285-289
Suggested Citation
Nuchnoi P., Piromtong P., Siribal S., Anansilp K., Thichanpiang P., Okada P.A. Applicability of a colorimetric reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for SARS-CoV-2 detection in high exposure risk setting. International Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol.128 (2023) , 285-289. 289. doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2023.01.010 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/82379
Title
Applicability of a colorimetric reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for SARS-CoV-2 detection in high exposure risk setting
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Objectives: During the third wave, the growing number of COVID-19 case clusters reported countrywide in Thailand demonstrated the rapidly evolving characteristics of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid spread of COVID-19 infections had been extensively reported in public areas and construction camps, as well as in congested communities with poor sanitation. High demand for SARS-CoV-2 genome testing and quick reporting by an hour for case identification and isolation characterizes the COVID-19 crisis in Thailand. This situation leads to an urgent need for alternative molecular tests which are reliable, rapid, and cost-effective. Methods: In this study, we assessed colorimetric reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP), using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) as a reference standard, for active case finding in suspected (mostly asymptomatic) cases living in high-risk areas of Bangkok. Results: The diagnostic performance of the RT-LAMP compared with real-time RT-PCR in specimens from 549 Thais were computed in a real-world field study setting. Our study demonstrated that RT-LAMP achieved robust identification of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with a diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 91.67% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion: RT-LAMP is a reliable assay for SARS-CoV-2 detection and is scalable for use in the emergency response to a nationwide pandemic, despite resource limitations. The RT-LAMP real-world data derived from this field study validate its potential use in laboratory practice. RT-LAMP is a good choice as a laboratory-based SARS-CoV-2 molecular test when real-time RT-PCR is not available.