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Updated: Jul 21, 2025
Two-Step Reverse Transcription Droplet Digital PCR Protocols for SARS-CoV-2 Detection and Quantification
Published on: March 31, 2021
Development and application of proficiency testing (PT) to evaluate the diagnostic capacity of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR
Carolaine de Oliveira Rodrigues1, Igor Renato Bertoni Olivares1, Dilmara Reischak2
1Chemistry Institute / University of São Paulo, (IQSC-USP), Brazil.
Abstract:
It is necessary to use quality tools to evaluate the diagnostic capacity of laboratories, such as implementing a proficiency testing (PT) program. The goal of this work is to develop and apply a PT protocol to assess the diagnostic capacity of SARS-CoV-2 through the RT-PCR method, based on appropriate metrological tools. A 5-item test panel containing items with different dilutions of SARS-CoV-2, including negative controls, was developed to perform this PT with the application of different performance assessment tools to score and differentiate performance between laboratories, according to Table 2. Based on the participants' total qualitative result, 95% of the negative samples and 73% of the positive samples were correctly identified by the laboratories. The results obtained were compared e validate the systematics of the PT developed, so that it can be implemented and used to monitor and improve the diagnostic capacity of SARS-CoV-2, also helping to improve the quality of these results.
