Comparison of Two Molecular Diagnostic Tests for COVID-19: Abbott RealTime SARS-CoV-2 and Allplex™ 2019-nCoV, in the Epidemic Context in Senegal

Background: The persistence of the rapid spread COVID-19 pandemic is linked to appearance several variants SARS-CoV2 with an impact on biological diagnosis, treatment and vaccination. United States Food Drug Administration (FDA) has granted SARS-CoV-2 detection tests Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for diagnosis better epidemiological surveillance. Thus, multiple RT-PCR have been developed brought market in order meet urgent need COVID-19. However, comparative data between these clinical laboratories are scarcely available assess their performance. Objective: To compare two molecular methods detecting SARS-CoV-2: RT-PCR, Allplex™ 2019-nCoV CFX96 Bio-Rad Abbott m2000sp/rt RealTime SARS-CoV-2. Materials Methods: Nasopharyngeal oropharyngeal swabs were taken from patients diagnose infection. For each sample, we searched virus different tests: 1) first m2000 targeting N RdRp genes, 2) then Assay looking E, genes. Results: Percentages agreement calculated. A total 100 samples that tested negative 90 positives retested 2019-nCoV. Overall was 74.74% all samples. specific 84% 64.4% respectively positive test. correlation (r2 = 0.63; p ™ As concordance low small viremias, would be indicated during acute symptomatic phase disease.