@Article{macau_mods_00001505, author = {Anastasiou, Olympia E. and Holtkamp, Caroline and Sch{\"a}fer, Miriam and Sch{\"o}n, Frieda and Eis-H{\"u}binger, Anna Maria and Krumbholz, Andi}, title = {Fast Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA Directly from Respiratory Samples Using a Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Test}, journal = {Viruses}, year = {2021}, publisher = {MDPI AG}, address = {Basel}, volume = {13}, number = {5}, keywords = {Nasopharynx; Humans; DNA, Viral; Specimen Handling; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Sensitivity and Specificity; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing; Nucleic acids; RT-PCR; LAMP; Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification; Direct Testing}, abstract = {The availability of simple SARS-CoV-2 detection methods is crucial to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined whether a commercial LAMP assay can reliably detect SARS-CoV-2 genomes directly in respiratory samples without having to extract nucleic acids (NA) beforehand. Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS, n = 220) were tested by real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and with the LAMP assay. For RT-PCR, NA were investigated. For LAMP, NA from 26 NPS in viral transport medium (VTM) were tested. The other 194 NPS were analyzed directly without prior NA extraction (140 samples in VTM; 54 dry swab samples stirred in phosphate buffered saline). Ten NPS were tested directly by LAMP using a sous-vide cooking unit. The isothermal assay demonstrated excellent specificity (100{\%}) but moderate sensitivity (68.8{\%}), with a positive predictive value of 1 and a negative predictive value of 0.65 for direct testing of NPS in VTM. The use of dry swabs, even without NA extraction, improved the analytical sensitivity; up to 6{\%} of samples showed signs of inhibition. LAMP could be performed successfully with a sous-vide cooking unit. This technique is very fast, requires little laboratory resources, and can replace rapid antigen tests or verify reactive rapid tests on-site.}, issn = {1999-4915}, doi = {10.3390/v13050801}, url = {https://macau.uni-kiel.de/receive/macau_mods_00001505}, url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/v13050801}, url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33947014}, file = {:https://macau.uni-kiel.de/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/macau_derivate_00002563/viruses-13-00801-v2.pdf:PDF}, language = {en} }