Browsing by Author "Sallinen-Dal Maso, Heidi"

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus two (SARS-CoV-2) viruses are spherical, enveloped and have a linear single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome. SARS-CoV-2 causes human coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). To detect the acute SARS-CoV-2 infection either a nucleic acid detection or an antigen detection test can be used. In this work, the suitability of the extraction buffer left over from the SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test for quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) verification test and the suitability of the saliva sample for COVID-19 RT-qPCR diagnostics were researched. The purpose of the study was to compare the SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Test (SD Biosensor/Roche Diagnostics) used by Siun Sote with the SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR test used in the Joensuu clinical microbiology laboratory of the joint county authority for ISLAB laboratories and compare saliva sample and nasopharyngeal swab sample in COVID-19 RT-qPCR diagnostics. In addition, the purpose was to evaluate the technical functionality of Copan's LolliSponge™ saliva sampling device for routine sampling. The results showed that the saliva sample is suitable for RT-qPCR diagnostics, although there was generally less SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the saliva samples than in the nasopharyngeal swab samples. LolliSponge™ worked well for routine sampling. The results showed that the extraction buffer left over from the SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test is suitable for the confirmatory RT-qPCR test, although this still requires further research. The rapid antigen test and the RT-qPCR test did not show a large difference in sensitivity, differences were found only in individual samples.