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Updated: Jul 24, 2025
Author Spotlight: A Pseudotype Virus System for Assessing Omicron Subvariants and Neutralizing Antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 Research
Published on: September 8, 2023
Rapid screening of SARS-CoV-2 variants, a key tool for pandemic surveillance
Irene Muñoz-Gallego1,2, María Ángeles Meléndez Carmona3,4, Carmen Martín Higuera3,4
1Laboratory of Virology, Microbiology Department, Hospital Universitario, 12 de Octubre, Avda de Córdoba s/n, 28041, Madrid, Spain. iremunozg@gmail.com.
Abstract:
The utility of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in analysis SARS-COV-2 variants was evaluated. RT-PCR tests were used to analyse the majority of new SARS-CoV-2 cases (n = 9315) in a tertiary hospital (Madrid, Spain) throughout 2021. Subsequently, whole genome sequencing (WGS) was conducted on 10.8% of these samples (n = 1002). Notably, the Delta and Omicron variants emerged rapidly. There were no discrepancies between RT-PCR and WGS results. Continuous surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants is essential, and RT-PCR is a highly useful method, specially during periods of high COVID-19 incidence. This feasible technique can be implemented in all SARS-CoV-2 laboratories. However, WGS remains the gold standard method for comprehensive detection of all existing SARS-CoV-2 variants.
