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Published on: March 31, 2021
Multicentre comparison of quantitative PCR-based assays to detect SARS-CoV-2, Germany, March 2020
Maximilian Muenchhoff1,2, Helga Mairhofer1,2, Hans Nitschko1,2
1Max von Pettenkofer Institute and Gene Center, Virology, National Reference Center for Retroviruses, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.
Abstract:
Containment strategies and clinical management of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients during the current pandemic depend on reliable diagnostic PCR assays for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we compare 11 different RT-PCR test systems used in seven diagnostic laboratories in Germany in March 2020. While most assays performed well, we identified detection problems in a commonly used assay that may have resulted in false-negative test results during the first weeks of the pandemic.
