This small device allows the detection of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 RNA on a single chip by PCR and microarray. The system was evaluated for performance and handling.
A test panel of 21 nasopharyngeal specimens from patients with suspected COVID-19 (x positive and x ne-gative) was used to test the system. The VerePLEX™ biosystem results were compared to RT-qPCR results (reference method). No false positive result was obtained, but two samples with low viral load gave false negative results.
The VerePLEX™ biosystem is easy to install and use, but the chips require more experience to be handled properly. Incorrect handling of the chips can lead to inconclusive results, as well as false-negative results. The run time for simultaneous analysis of a maximum of five samples is 2:30 to 3 hours. The VereCoV™ chip detects only two viruses, but several other chips are available for the same instrument, with each chip allowing testing for up to 12 pathogens. This plasticity is the main strength of the system.
Overall, the compactness and plasticity of the VerePLEX™ biosystem make it particularly attractive to laboratories that need to test for many different pathogens, with low sample numbers. The VereCoV™ is not the most interesting chip, as it only allows testing for two coronaviruses.
J. SCHAEFFER (1,2*), W. RUPPITSCH (1) 1 AGES Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene Vienna 2 EUPHEM Fellowship, European Center for Disease Prevention and Control