SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostics Based on Nucleic Acids Amplification: From Fundamental Concepts to Applications and Beyond

Area of Science:

• Molecular diagnostics
• Virology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic spurred rapid development of SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic methods.
• Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) became the standard for routine SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis due to their sensitivity.
• Accurate detection relies on amplifying specific viral RNA sequences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current state of NAATs for SARS-CoV-2 detection.
• To cover both clinical and point-of-care (POC) diagnostic approaches.
• To analyze isothermal and non-isothermal amplification techniques, associated virology, and instrumentation.

Main Methods:

• Compilation of existing literature on SARS-CoV-2 NAATs.
• Detailed assessment of amplification and detection technologies.
• Discussion of molecular reactions for nucleic acid detection and required instruments.
• Benchmarking of commercial SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests.

Main Results:

• NAATs are crucial for sensitive SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection.
• Both isothermal and non-isothermal amplification methods are employed for clinic and POC diagnostics.
• Understanding virology, sample handling, and instrumentation is key to test performance.

Conclusions:

• NAATs are vital tools for managing the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The review provides a comprehensive overview of current SARS-CoV-2 NAATs.
• Future NAAT development is essential for addressing current and future viral challenges.