Improved RT-PCR SARS-Cov2 results interpretation by indirect determination of cut-off cycle threshold value

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Abstract

Clinical laboratories of the developing world are overwhelmed with RT-PCR SARS-Cov2 testing demands. It is of paramount importance that each clinical laboratory use an appropriate cut-off value in the interpretation of SARS-Cov2 real-time RT–PCR results, which is specific to their laboratory performances as ISO 15189 recommendations stipulate. We applied an indirect statistical method to a large mixed data set of Ct values (ORF1ab and N) to estimate cut-off Ct value (∼32 cycles).we conclude that the use of indirect statistical approaches to estimate cut-off value in the interpretation of SARS-Cov2 real-time RT–PCR results may improve differential diagnosis of COVID-19 cases with low risk of infectivity, and may help to better estimates of the burden of COVID-19 disease.

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  1. SciScore for 10.1101/2020.11.20.20235390: (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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