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Homebrew: Protocol for glassmilk-based nucleic-acid extraction for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics
Robert Page1, Edward Scourfield2, Mattia Ficarelli2
1ImmunoEngineering Lab, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Cancer Centre, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK.
STAR Protocols
|April 28, 2022
Summary
A new low-cost RNA extraction method, Homebrew, matches the sensitivity of commercial kits for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection. This method enables sample pooling and automation for high-throughput testing.
Area of Science:
- Molecular biology
- Virology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is the gold standard for detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
- Existing RNA extraction kits can be costly, limiting widespread testing accessibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a low-cost, sensitive RNA extraction protocol for SARS-CoV-2 detection.
- To offer an alternative to expensive commercial RNA extraction kits.
Main Methods:
- Development of the Homebrew protocol using readily available reagents.
- Comparison of Homebrew's sensitivity against commercial RNA extraction kits.
- Assessment of Homebrew's suitability for sample pooling and automation.
Main Results:
- The Homebrew protocol demonstrates comparable sensitivity to commercial RNA extraction kits for SARS-CoV-2 detection.
- Homebrew is a cost-effective method for RNA extraction.
- The protocol is adaptable for sample pooling and high-throughput automation.
Conclusions:
- Homebrew provides a viable, low-cost, and sensitive alternative for RNA extraction in SARS-CoV-2 testing.
- This protocol can enhance the scalability and accessibility of viral RNA detection.
