Empleo de la RT-PCR en la detección del SARS-CoV-2

José Francisco Cancino Mesa; Adrián Alejandro Vitón Castillo; Jorge  Casí Torres

doi:10.1590/SciELOPreprints.707

##article.authors##

José Francisco Cancino Mesa Granma Medical Science University, Manzanillo Medical Faculty Celia Sánchez Manduley, Cuba. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9328-9856
Adrián Alejandro Vitón Castillo Pinar del Río Medical Science University, Ernesto Guevara de la Serna Medical Faculty, Pinar del Río, Cuba https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7811-2470
Jorge Casí Torres Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Celia Sánchez Manduley, Servicio de Medicina Interna. Manzanillo. Granma

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/SciELOPreprints.707

Keywords:

Polymerase Chain Reaction, Coronavirus Infections, Clinical Laboratory Techniques

Abstract

The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction is a high precision technique to detect and amplify genetic material.

Aim: To describe the use of the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction as a laboratory test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Method: a literature review was conducted on articles published up to May 2020. A survey on the databases Scopus, Wiley Online Library, SciELO, DIALNET, EBSCO, MEDLINE and PubMed retrieved 40 articles of interest included in this research.

Development: the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to detect SARS-CoV-2 targets the RNA polymerase dependent RNA, ORF1ab fragments, the E gene, the N gene and the S gene. Nasopharyngeal swabs offer better results than oropharyngeal swabs and saliva. The inclusion of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction tests (RT-PCR) using rectal swab in suspected false-negative cases is necessary. New studies and techniques are continuously developed to optimise the detection process.

Conclusions: the availability of diagnostic tests is crucial for the identification of positive cases and the traceability of the transmission chain. RT-PCR is the test of choice during the active period of viral replication. The RT-LAMP assay is a rapid diagnostic alternative with similar principles to RT-PCR.