- Vero E6 cells 
- SARS-CoV-2 (infectious, replication-competent, and heat inactivated)
- Puritan UniTranz-RT Universal Transport Medium
- Nanotrap Magnetic Virus Particles
- Phospate-buffered saliine solution
- Diagnostic remnant samples that have tested positive
- Diagnostic remnant samples that have tested negative


Materials

A 5-minute nanotrap particle capture step can greatly increase the sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 real-time RT-PCR assays. The procedure involves mixing nanotrap particles into a saliva sample and incubating it at room temperature. The nanotrap particles and viruses are then separated from the solution using a magnet, after which the particles are added to a buffer. Finally, the resulting solution undergoes real-time RT-PCR.

Nanotrap Particle Capture Procedure for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Assays

The largest advantage to using the nanotrap particle virus extraction and detection method is the elimination of false negatives in COVID-19 testing. In collecting samples from previous patients, the nanotrap particle method was able to detect SARS-CoV-2 in all of the samples that had previously tested positive. In addition, the nanotrap particle method helped detect low levels of the virus in samples that had previously been tested as negative by other methods.

Nanotrap Particle Method's Elimination of SARS-CoV-2 False Negatives

University of California, Davis

Affinity capture magnetic hydrogel particles can be used to capture SARS-CoV-2 from the saliva of a person who is being tested for the virus. In this method the virus is concentrated before the extraction of RNA occurs. Transport medium diagnostic remnant samples that have been tested before using previous methods help show that the method correctly identifies positive samples as well as improves the likelihood of detecting the virus in samples that contain a low percentage of COVID-19 positive patients. 

Nanotrap Particles 

Barclay, R., Akhrymuk, I., Patnaik, A., Callahan, V., Lehman, C., Andersen, P., . . . Lepene, B. (2020). Nanotrap® particles improve detection of SARS-CoV-2 for pooled sample methods, extraction-free saliva methods, and extraction-free transport medium methods. doi:10.1101/2020.06.25.172510

Nanotrap particles improve detection of SARS-CoV-2 for pooled sample methods, extraction-free saliva methods, and extraction-free transport medium methods

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