{Reference Type}: Preprint
{Title}: A blueprint for academic labs to produce SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR test kits.
{Author}: Mascuch SJ;Fakhretaha-Aval S;Bowman JC;Ma MTH;Thomas G;Bommarius B;Ito C;Zhao L;Newnam GP;Matange KR;Thapa HR;Barlow B;Donegan RK;Nguyen NA;Saccuzzo EG;Obianyor CT;Karunakaran SC;Pollet P;Rothschild-Mancinelli B;Mestre-Fos S;Guth-Metzler R;Bryksin AV;Petrov AS;Hazell M;Ibberson CB;Penev PI;Mannino RG;Lam WA;Garcia AJ;Kubanek JM;Agarwal V;Hud NV;Glass JB;Williams LD;Lieberman RL;
{Journal}: medRxiv
{Volume}: 0
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: Sep 2020 1
暂无{DOI}: 10.1101/2020.07.29.20163949
{Abstract}: Widespread testing for the presence of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in individuals remains vital for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic prior to the advent of an effective treatment. Challenges in testing can be traced to an initial shortage of supplies, expertise and/or instrumentation necessary to detect the virus by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), the most robust, sensitive, and specific assay currently available. Here we show that academic biochemistry and molecular biology laboratories equipped with appropriate expertise and infrastructure can replicate commercially available SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR test kits and backfill pipeline shortages. The Georgia Tech COVID-19 Test Kit Support Group, composed of faculty, staff, and trainees across the biotechnology quad at Georgia Institute of Technology, synthesized multiplexed primers and probes and formulated a master mix composed of enzymes and proteins produced in-house. Our in-house kit compares favorably to a commercial product used for diagnostic testing. We also developed an environmental testing protocol to readily monitor surfaces across various campus laboratories for the presence of SARS-CoV-2. Our blueprint should be readily reproducible by research teams at other institutions, and our protocols may be modified and adapted to enable SARS-CoV-2 detection in more resource-limited settings.