Contextual analysis of the first SARS-CoV-2 RNA screening period in nasopharyngeal swabs, 2020-2022: a comparison of two diagnostic tests


Submitted: 3 August 2023
Accepted: 16 November 2023
Published: 3 May 2024
Abstract Views: 1149
PDF: 201
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Authors

  • Elisabetta Scomparin SC Microbiology and Virology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy.
  • Roberta Di Matteo SC Research Training Innovation Infrastructure, Department of Research and Innovation, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8249-8284
  • Valentina Bigucci SC Microbiology and Virology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy.
  • Valentina Repetto SC Microbiology and Virology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0291-2184
  • Haymanot Bonelli SC Microbiology and Virology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0956-6098
  • Erika Berta SC Microbiology and Virology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy.
  • Tatiana Bolgeo SC Research Training Innovation Infrastructure, Department of Research and Innovation, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7322-7009
  • Antonio Maconi Director, Research and Innovation Department (DAIRI), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria SS. Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, Alessandria, Italy.

Background: exceptionally consistent COVID-19 laboratory diagnostics are crucial for case identification, patient management and contact tracing. The Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected over 771.407.825 people up until October 2023, with over 6.9 million deaths. The current process of clinical laboratory consolidation, impacting large geographic areas, presents an opportunity for the efficient and cost-effective implementation of novel laboratory technologies, as well as advancements in translational research and development. The aim of this study was to assess which of the two instruments could offer the most effective support to our laboratory’s activities, minimizing errors during the pre-analytical phase, optimizing human resources, and reducing the Turn-Around-Time (TAT). Materials and Methods: the diagnostic instruments available in the Microbiology laboratory of the Azienda Ospedaliero- Universitaria SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo (AOUAL) were the COBAS 6800 and the ALINITY platforms. Conclusions: the Alinity platform offers clinicians a more user-friendly approach to understanding patient infectivity, compared to the closed Cobas system. It permits clinicians to review curves and access a cumulative Cycle Threshold (Ct), facilitating the hypothesis of acute or initial/final infection stages. This positions Alinity by Abbott as the preferred system over other instruments.


Vandenberg O, Durand G, Hallin M, et al. Consolidation of Clinical Microbiology Laboratories and Introduction of Transformative Technologies. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2020;33:e00057-19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.00057-19

Roche. Cobas® SARS-CoV-2 Test. Available from: https://diagnostics.roche.com/global/en/products/params/cobas-sars-cov-2-test.html

Roche. Cobas® 6800 System. Available from: https://diagnostics.roche.com/global/en/products/instruments/cobas-6800-ins-2693.html

Abbott. Alinity m sistem overview. Available from: https://www.molecular.abbott/int/en/products/infectious-disease/alinity-m-product-overview

Abbott. Alinity m Sars -Cov-2 Assay (EUA). Available from: https://www.molecular.abbott/us/en/products/infectious-disease/alinity-m-sars-cov-2-assay

Ministero della Salute. Covid-19. Available from: https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/nuovocoronavirus/dettaglioContenutiNuovoCoronavirus.jsp?id=5338&area=nuovoCoronavirus&menu=vuoto

Scomparin, E., Di Matteo, R., Bigucci, V., Repetto, V., Bonelli, H., Berta, E., Bolgeo, T., & Maconi, A. (2024). Contextual analysis of the first SARS-CoV-2 RNA screening period in nasopharyngeal swabs, 2020-2022: a comparison of two diagnostic tests. Working Paper of Public Health, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/wpph.2024.9818

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