Nationwide Harmonization Effort for Semi-Quantitative Reporting of SARS-CoV-2 PCR Test Results in Belgium

From early 2020, a high demand for SARS-CoV-2 tests was driven by several testing indications, including asymptomatic cases, resulting in the massive roll-out of PCR assays to combat the pandemic. Considering the dynamic of viral shedding during the course of infection, the demand to report cycle threshold (Ct) values rapidly emerged. As Ct values can be affected by a number of factors, we considered that harmonization of semi-quantitative PCR results across laboratories would avoid potential divergent interpretations, particularly in the absence of clinical or serological information. A propo... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Lize Cuypers
Jannes Bode
Kurt Beuselinck
Lies Laenen
Klaas Dewaele
Reile Janssen
Arnaud Capron
Yves Lafort
Henry Paridaens
Bertrand Bearzatto
Mathieu Cauchie
Aline Huwart
Jonathan Degosserie
Olivier Fagnart
Yarah Overmeire
Arlette Rouffiange
Ilse Vandecandelaere
Marine Deffontaine
Thomas Pilate
Nicolas Yin
Isabel Micalessi
Sandrine Roisin
Veronique Moons
Marijke Reynders
Sophia Steyaert
Coralie Henin
Elena Lazarova
Dagmar Obbels
François E. Dufrasne
Hendri Pirenne
Raf Schepers
Anaëlle Collin
Bruno Verhasselt
Laurent Gillet
Stijn Jonckheere
Philippe Van Lint
Bea Van den Poel
Yolien Van der Beken
Violeta Stojkovic
Maria-Grazia Garrino
Hannah Segers
Kevin Vos
Maaike Godefroid
Valerie Pede
Friedel Nollet
Vincent Claes
Inge Verschraegen
Pierre Bogaerts
Marjan Van Gysel
Judith Leurs
Veroniek Saegeman
Oriane Soetens
Merijn Vanhee
Gilberte Schiettekatte
Evelyne Huyghe
Steven Martens
Ann Lemmens
Heleen Nailis
Kim Laffineur
Deborah Steensels
Elke Vanlaere
Jérémie Gras
Gatien Roussel
Koenraad Gijbels
Michael Boudewijns
Catherine Sion
Wim Achtergael
Wim Maurissen
Luc Iliano
Marianne Chantrenne
Geert Vanheule
Reinoud Flies
Nicolas Hougardy
Mario Berth
Vanessa Verbeke
Robin Morent
Anne Vankeerberghen
Sébastien Bontems
Kaat Kehoe
Anneleen Schallier
Giang Ho
Kristof Bafort
Marijke Raymaekers
Yolande Pypen
Amelie Heinrichs
Wim Schuermans
Dominique Cuigniez
Salah Eddine Lali
Stefanie Drieghe
Dieter Ory
Marie Le Mercier
Kristel Van Laethem
Inge Thoelen
Sarah Vandamme
Iqbal Mansoor
Carl Vael
Maxime De Sloovere
Katrien Declerck
Elisabeth Dequeker
Stefanie Desmet
Piet Maes
Katrien Lagrou
Emmanuel André
Dokumenttyp: Text
Erscheinungsdatum: 2022
Verlag/Hrsg.: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Schlagwörter: SARS-CoV-2 / PCR / semi-quantitative reporting / RNA copies/mL / infectivity
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-28947865
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : https://doi.org/10.3390/v14061294

From early 2020, a high demand for SARS-CoV-2 tests was driven by several testing indications, including asymptomatic cases, resulting in the massive roll-out of PCR assays to combat the pandemic. Considering the dynamic of viral shedding during the course of infection, the demand to report cycle threshold (Ct) values rapidly emerged. As Ct values can be affected by a number of factors, we considered that harmonization of semi-quantitative PCR results across laboratories would avoid potential divergent interpretations, particularly in the absence of clinical or serological information. A proposal to harmonize reporting of test results was drafted by the National Reference Centre (NRC) UZ/KU Leuven, distinguishing four categories of positivity based on RNA copies/mL. Pre-quantified control material was shipped to 124 laboratories with instructions to setup a standard curve to define thresholds per assay. For each assay, the mean Ct value and corresponding standard deviation was calculated per target gene, for the three concentrations (107, 105 and 103 copies/mL) that determine the classification. The results of 17 assays are summarized. This harmonization effort allowed to ensure that all Belgian laboratories would report positive PCR results in the same semi-quantitative manner to clinicians and to the national database which feeds contact tracing interventions.