This study is to establish an accurate, robust and easily scalable COVID-19 viral nucleic acid analysis platform from, but not limited to, saliva to help enable and support contact tracing in the canton of Baselland/ Switzerland. To achieve this, crude ribonucleotide acid (RNA) extraction from saliva is validated in combination with next-generation sequencing (NGS) diagnostics and loop mediated amplification (LAMP) assays as well as point of care test (POCT) for rapid detection of viral antigens on patients' samples.
Other: Saliva based assay: crude RNA extraction
Crude RNA extraction to inactivate the virus and stabilize the RNA for transport at room temperature. Validation of the crude RNA extraction from saliva in combination with NGS diagnostics and LAMP assays and point of care test (POCT) for rapid detection of viral antigens on patients' samples.
Other: Validation of the NGS method
Compare the results obtained with the next-generation sequencing (NGS) method to the nasopharyngeal swabs analysed in a FAMH certified lab.
Other: Validation of the LAMP assays
The RNA will be analyzed onsite using the loop mediated amplification (LAMP) assay.
Other: Validation of the POCT Antigen and Antibody tests
Rapid point of care tests (POCT) detecting viral protein antigens (Ag) and antibodies (Ab) on patients' samples. POCT are often employed in low income countries, but for COVID-19 they are not yet characterized. Their performance is to be characterized that they can be used as a safe guard if the lab diagnostics fail.
Inclusion Criteria:
- symptomatic patients getting tested for COVID-19
Exclusion Criteria:
- mentally incompetent adults
Cantonal Office of Public Health, Economics and Health Directorate, Canton Basel-Landschaft
Liestal, Switzerland
Investigator: Miodrag Savic, Dr. med. Dr. med. dent.
Contact: +41 79 485 31 13
miodrag.savic@usb.ch
Miodrag Savic, Dr. med. Dr. med. dent.
+41 79 485 31 13
miodrag.savic@usb.ch
Juerg Sommer, Dr.
Miodrag Savic, Dr. med. Dr. med. dent., Principal Investigator
Cantonal Office of Public Health, Economics and Health Directorate, Canton Basel-Landschaft