New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Mass, recently established the SARS-CoV-2 Quick Colorimetric LAMP Assay Kit, an investigation use only (RUO) product which can be used for the discovery of novel coronavirus RNA. The kit acts as a simple alternative to RT-qPCR and enables visual discovery of amplification of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid in only 30 minutes.

[caption id="attachment_6592" align="alignright" width="315"]<span style="font-size: 8pt;"><img class="wp-image-6592 " src="https://microbiozindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/New-England-Biolabs_SARS_CoV_2_Kit_PosNegExamples_0620_2-181x300.jpg" alt="" width="315" height="522" /></span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;">The SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Colorimetric LAMP Assay was carried out using the indicated controls and either positive sample (human total RNA + synthetic SARS-CoV-2 RNA) or negative sample (human total RNA alone). Valid results for Non-Template Control (NTC, pink), Positive Control (PC, yellow) and Internal Control (IC, yellow) are shown. In the positive test sample, isothermal amplification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA leads to a color change from pink to yellow.</span>[/caption]

The kit uses loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to find certain parts of the viral genome. This method gives a definite visual discovery of amplification, dependent on the creation of protons as well as also the subsequent drop in pH that occurs from the extensive DNA polymerase activity within an LAMP reaction. The reduction in pH produces a color shift, together with pink suggesting a negative effect and yellow suggesting a positive outcome.

“RT-qPCR, the predominant nucleic acid amplification technology, requires a laboratory with sophisticated equipment, and can take hours to produce a readout,” says Steven Chiu, product marketing manager, DNA amplification at New England Biolabs. “With the SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Colorimetric LAMP Assay Kit, all you need is a simple heat source and 30 minutes to visually detect amplification of SARS CoV-2 RNA. This assay thus has the potential to be very beneficial in a low-resource or point-of-care setting.”

For more information: <span style="color: #ff6600;"><a style="color: #ff6600;" href="https://www.neb.com/applications/dna-amplification-pcr-and-qpcr/isothermal-amplification/loop-mediated-isothermal-amplification-lamp">New England Biolabs</a></span>