SARS-CoV-2 RNA Testing Platforms

During the study period, the Henri Mondor hospital virology laboratory used several platforms for SARS-CoV-2 RNA testing, based on technical developments and reagent availability. Between March and June 2020, samples were tested using an in-house RT-qPCR assay based on the Charité protocol targeting the E and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) genes (16 (link)) and on a commercially available RT-PCR assay targeting the E and S genes (RealStar SARS-CoV-2 RT PCR kit 1.0; Altona Diagnostics GmbH, Hamburg, Germany) (17 (link)). After September 2020, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected by means of commercially available molecular biology technologies, including TMA (Aptima SARS CoV-2 on the Panther system; Hologic, Marlborough, MA) or RT-PCR (Alinity m; Abbott Molecular, Des Plaines, IL). Samples found to be RNA positive in TMA were retested by RT-PCR (TaqPath COVID-19 RT-PCR kit; Thermo Fisher, Pleasanton, CA) to measure C_T values. Samples with C_T values above 40 were considered negative.