New frontiers for the identification of variants of Covid-19. A new technique, developed by the researchers of the Clinical Diagnostic Research Institute High medical of Rome, Dr. Marco Fabiani Profssa Katia Margiotti, allows to identify the mutations of the Sars-CoV-2 virus in a rapid, economical and above all reliable way for a more precise monitoring of the spread of the virus and its transmissibility. The discovery emerges from one studio, conducted by the molecular biology team of the research center on a sample of 77 positive patients suffering from Coronavirus disease, submitted to the prestigious scientific journal Journal of Virological Methods.
“A new one is presented and validated in the study method for the characterization of the variants of Sars-CoV-2 which exploits the Real TimePCR (Rt-Pcr) method – explains Claudio Giorlandino, scientific director of the Altamedica Research Center – In particular, qPCR probes have been designed to detect specific mutations of the emerging variants , currently associated with increased infectivity and immune escape, through mutations in the Spike gene. To date, the technique allows to detect several variants through a single examination, iEnglish, Brazilian and South African. We are developing the possibility of identifying the new variant indiana”.
“Currently the techniques used for the characterization of variants exploit NGS, an expensive, time-consuming technique that not all laboratories can use due to the high level of staff specialization required – continues Giorlandino – The validated technique is instead rapid and low cost. : the times for the survey are extremely short, we are talking about 24 hours, while the cost for 3 variants is 18-20 euros, against 200 required by the NGS exam. The use of a rapid and inexpensive alternative diagnostic technique could be a powerful way to create a network of public and private laboratories throughout the territory capable of carefully monitoring the spread of Sars-CoV-2 variants ”.