WHO has expressed concern about reports of a decrease in the effectiveness of PCR assays aimed at detecting the S-protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This is stated in the official statement released today.
“Laboratories using commercial PCR kits for which the target viral genes are not clearly identified in the manufacturer’s instructions are encouraged to contact the manufacturer for more information. Laboratories using internal PCR assays targeting the S gene of the virus should also be aware of this potential problem, “the WHO said.
The reasons that influenced PCR testing are out of the question. However, the WHO recommends that when diagnosing coronavirus infection, the use of “various parallel or multiplex assays targeting different regions of the viral genome in order to detect potential emerging variants.” Thus, it can be concluded that the accuracy of test results may decrease as changes in the gene composition of SARS-CoV-2 accumulate.
Today, WHO is holding a meeting with international experts to discuss the situation with the mutating virus. The reason was the discovery in the UK modified strain SARS-CoV-2, which, according to British experts, showed a higher contagiousness.
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