Thermo Scientific SARS-CoV-2 PCR Workflow

Retailers and producers are increasingly looking for laboratory tests that can help them control the efficiency of the sanitation processes and barriers procedures. The Thermo Scientific SARS-CoV-2 PCR Workflow for food packaging and environmental surfaces is a complete end-to-end workflow, encompassing sampling, sample preparation and detection. It can deliver results in as little as 3 h, quickly providing users with the information they need to manage any potential surface or packaging contamination risks.

The test, which has been performance tested and validated by AOAC International for qualitative detection of the virus on environmental surfaces, includes three TaqMan RT‑PCR assays to target SARS-CoV-2 (ORF1ab, N-gene, S-gene) genes and one positive control assay, targeting the Human RNase P RPPH1 gene offering both high specificity and sensitivity. Because of the multi-target design of this assay, overall test sensitivity should not be impacted by the recent SARS-CoV-2 strain lineage (B.1.1.7 variant).

The test targets three different viral genomic regions — ORF1ab, N-gene and S-gene — reducing the risk of false negatives. Extensive bioinformatic selection and analysis has been undertaken to specifically target sequences that are unique to SARS-CoV-2. The RNase P assay is run in duplex with the combined 2019-nCoV assays as an internal positive control.

The workflow can be run on the Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR System or the Applied Biosystems QuantStudio 5 Real-Time PCR System, which many food and environmental testing labs are used to working with. Both instruments are also suitable for the company’s complete portfolio of PCR tests for food pathogens and environmental samples, biothreat organisms, animal species identification and GMO testing.