Resource optimization in COVID-19 diagnosis

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Abstract

The emergence and rapid dissemination worldwide of a novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) results in decrease of swabs availability for clinical samples collection, as well as, reagents for RT-qPCR diagnostic kits considered a confirmatory test for COVID-19 infection. This scenario, showed the requirement of improve de diagnostic capacity, so the aim of this study were to verify the possibility of reducing the reaction volume of RT-qPCR and to test cotton swabs as alternative for sample collection. RT-qPCR volumes and RNA sample concentration were optimized without affecting the sensitivity of assays, using both probe-based and intercalation dyes methods. Although rayon swabs showed better performance, cotton swabs could be used as alternative type for clinical sample collection. COVID-19 laboratory diagnosis is important to isolate and restrict the dissemination of virus, so seek for alternatives to decrease the coast of assays improve the control of disease.

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  1. SciScore for 10.1101/2020.06.25.172528: (What is this?)

    Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.

    Table 1: Rigor

    Institutional Review Board Statementnot detected.
    Randomizationnot detected.
    Blindingnot detected.
    Power Analysisnot detected.
    Sex as a biological variablenot detected.

    Table 2: Resources

    No key resources detected.


    Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).


    Results from LimitationRecognizer: An explicit section about the limitations of the techniques employed in this study was not found. We encourage authors to address study limitations.

    Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.


    Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.


    Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.


    Results from rtransparent:
    • Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • No protocol registration statement was detected.

    About SciScore

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