Developing novel liquid biopsy by selective capture of viral RNA on magnetic beads to detect COVID-19

OBJECTIVE(S): Early, specific, and sensitive detection methods of COVID-19 are essential for force stopping its worldwide infection. Although CT images of the lung and/or viral RNA extraction followed by real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) are widely used; they have some limitations. Here, we developed a highly sensitive magnetic bead-based viral RNA extraction assay followed by rRT-PCR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Case group included oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal and blood samples from 30 patients diagnosed positive by PCR test for COVID-19 and control group included 30 same samples from COVID-19 negative PCR test individuals. RNA was extracted, using viral RNA extraction kit as well as using our hand-made capture bead-based technique. A one-step cDNA synthesis and Real Time PCR was conducted. A two-step comparison of the different viral RNA extraction methods for oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal and blood samples was performed. Student t-test was applied with a P<0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: In the case group, all 30 mucosal samples extracted either with viral RNA extraction kit or with beads-based assay were COVID-19 positive although in the latter category, Cqs were much lower. Although 43% of plasma samples extracted by bead-based method were found to be positive but no plasma samples extracted with column-based kit were detected positive by Real Time PCR. CONCLUSION: Bead-based RNA extraction method can reduce RNA loss by its single-tube performance and enhance the test sensitivity. It is also more sensitive to lower viral loads as shown in the detection of blood samples and the lower Cqs of mucosal samples.