Alinity m system

Prior to RNA extraction, 200 µL of VTM supplemented samples were inactivated by mixing with 200 µL of ATL Lysis buffer (Qiagen). RNA extractions were performed on 200 µL of inactivated samples and experiments were carried out using three different processes, according to their availability at University Hospital: (1) Extraction on the Alinity m system (Abbott) using the Alinity m Sample Prep Kit 2, Alinity m Lysis Solution, and Alinity m Diluent Solution (Abbott) followed by RT-qPCR on the Alinity m system using the proprietary Alinity m SARS-CoV-2 AMP Kit targeting RdRp and N genes; (2) Automatic extraction on a Starlet platform (Hamilton) using the Starmag 96 Universal kit (Seegene) followed by RT-qPCR targeting the RdRp, E and N viral genes on a CFX 96 (Biorad) using the Allplex 2019-nCov assay kit (Seegene); (3) Extraction on MGISP-NE32 (MGI) was carried out using the MGIEasy Nucleic Acid Extraction Kit (MGI) followed by RT-qPCR on a LightCycler480 (Roche) using either Real time fluorescent RT-PCR (RdRp probe) (BGI) or the RT-PCR Argene SARS-CoV2 R-gene kit (N and RdRp Probes) (BioMérieux).

All virological tests for HCV RNA were performed using the Abbott Alinity m system, with a limit of detection of 12 IU/mL. All serological tests for HCV were performed using the Abbott Alinity i system, with a sensitivity of 100% (95% confidence interval of 99.2–100%).