Lyophilization of premixed COVID-19 diagnostic RT-qPCR reactions enables stable long-term storage at elevated temperature.

ABSTRACT: Reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 are the cornerstone of the global testing infrastructure. However, these tests require cold-chain shipping to distribute, and the labor of skilled technicians to assemble reactions and interpret the results. Strategies to reduce shipping and labor costs at the point-of-care could aid in diagnostic testing scale-up and response to the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as in future outbreaks. In this study we test both lab-developed and commercial SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic RT-qPCR mixes for the ability to be stabilized against elevated temperature by lyophilization. Fully assembled reactions were lyophilized and stored for up to a month at ambient or elevated temperature and were subsequently assayed

SUBMITTER: Hammerling MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8237061 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature