Realistic considerations for comparison between SARS-CoV-2 molecular diagnostic assays

Abstract

In the setting of a sudden and severe pandemic, the adoption of multiple diagnostic platforms for clinical testing to circumvent routine service disruption due to potential supply shortage of reagents and consumables is prudent. A laboratory-developed test like this allows the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in non-respiratory swab specimens such as saliva, lower respiratory tract fluids, stool and blood while testing these specimens on the cobas 6800 SARS-CoV-2 is an off-label use of the Emergency Use Authorized test. An argument against repeating the test on the same assay in multiple replicates is that fluctuation in results between replicates will unlikely resolve the uncertainty, other than just increasing the cost and turn-around-time of reporting.