Delayed Laboratory Response to COVID-19 Caused by Molecular Diagnostic Contamination

• Main Authors: Ramona Mögling, Adam Meijer, Natasa Berginc, Sylvia Bruisten, Remi Charrel, Bruno Coutard, Isabella Eckerle, Vincent Enouf, Olav Hungnes, Gülay Korukluoglu, Thanos Kossyvakis, Andreas Mentis, Richard Molenkamp, Shaman Muradrasoli, Anna Papa, Fiona Pigny, Laurence Thirion, Sylvie van der Werf, Chantal Reusken
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2020-08-01
• Series: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: delayed laboratory response; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; SARS-CoV-2; coronaviruses; viruses; coronavirus disease
• Online Access: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/8/20-1843_article

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) created an exceptional situation in which numerous laboratories in Europe simultaneously implemented SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics. These laboratories reported in February 2020 that commercial primer and probe batches for SARS-CoV-2 detection were contaminated with synthetic control material, causing delays of regional testing roll-out in various countries.