Original Research

High concordance in SARSCoV-2 detection between automated (Abbott m2000) and manual (DaAn gene) RT-PCR systems: The EDCTP PERFECT-Study in Cameroon

Nadine N. Fainguem, Joseph Fokam, Ezechiel N.J. Semengue, Alex D. Nka, Désiré Takou, Joshua A. Nkembi-leke, Claudia Alteri, Luna Colagrossi, Roméo B. Yagai, Collins A. Chenwi, Michel C.T. Tommo, Grace A. Beloumou, Aude C. Ka’e, Sandrine C.N. Djupsa, Aissatou Abba, Laeticia G.H. Yatchou, Krystel N. Zam, Rachel Kamgaing, Samuel M. Sosso, Lucien Mama, Nicaise Ndembi, Vittorio Colizzi, Carlo-Federico Perno, Giulia Cappelli, Alexis Ndjolo
Journal of Public Health in Africa | Vol 13, No 1 | a391 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2022.2163 | © 2024 Nadine N. Fainguem, Joseph Fokam, Ezechiel N.J. Semengue, Alex D. Nka, Désiré Takou, Joshua A. Nkembi-leke, Claudia Alteri, Luna Colagrossi, Roméo B. Yagai, Collins A. Chenwi, Michel C.T. Tommo, Grace A. Beloumou, Aude C. Ka’e, Sandrine C.N. Djupsa, Aissatou Abba, Laeticia G.H. Yatchou, Krystel N. Zam, Rachel Kamgaing, Samuel M. Sosso, Lucien Mama, Nicaise Ndembi, Vittorio Colizzi, Carlo-Federico Perno, Giulia Cappelli, Alexis Ndjolo | This work is licensed under Other
Submitted: 10 April 2024 | Published: 24 May 2022

About the author(s)

Nadine N. Fainguem, Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon; University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Evangelical University of Cameroon, Bandjoun, Cameroon
Joseph Fokam, Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea; COVID-19 Laboratory Unit, Operations Section, National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, Yaounde, Cameroon
Ezechiel N.J. Semengue, Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon; University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Evangelical University of Cameroon, Bandjoun, Cameroon
Alex D. Nka, Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon; University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Evangelical University of Cameroon, Bandjoun, Cameroon
Désiré Takou, Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon; University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
Joshua A. Nkembi-leke, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
Claudia Alteri, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Luna Colagrossi, Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
Roméo B. Yagai, Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon; University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
Collins A. Chenwi, Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Michel C.T. Tommo, Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Grace A. Beloumou, Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Aude C. Ka’e, Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon; University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Evangelical University of Cameroon, Bandjoun, Cameroon
Sandrine C.N. Djupsa, Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Aissatou Abba, Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Laeticia G.H. Yatchou, Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Krystel N. Zam, Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Rachel Kamgaing, Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Samuel M. Sosso, Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Lucien Mama, Cite Verte Health District, Regional Delegation of Health, Yaounde, Cameroon
Nicaise Ndembi, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Abbis Ababa, Ethiopia
Vittorio Colizzi, Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon; University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Evangelical University of Cameroon, Bandjoun, Cameroon
Carlo-Federico Perno, Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé; Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
Giulia Cappelli, Institute for Biological Systems, Italian National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy
Alexis Ndjolo, Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé; Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon

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Abstract

Molecular diagnosis of COVID-19 is critical to the control of the pandemic, which is a major threat to global health. Several molecular tests have been validated by WHO, but would require operational evaluation in the field to ensure their interoperability in diagnosis. In order to ensure field interoperability in molecular assays for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, we evaluated the diagnostic concordance of SARS-CoV-2 between an automated (Abbott) and a manual (DaAn gene) realtime PCR (rRT-PCR), two commonly used assays in Africa. A comparative study was conducted on 287 nasopharyngeal specimens at the Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre (CIRCB) in Yaounde-Cameroon. Samples were tested in parallel with Abbott and DaAn gene rRT-PCR, and performance characteristics were evaluated by Cohen’s coefficient and Spearman’s correlation. A total of 273 participants [median age (IQR) 36 (26-46) years] and 14 EQA specimens were included in the study. Positivity was on 30.0% (86/287) Abbott and 37.6% (108/287) DaAn gene. Overall agreement was 82.6% (237/287), with k=0.82 (95%CI: 0.777-0.863), indicating an excellent diagnostic agreement. The positive and negative agreement was 66.67% (72/108) and 92.18 % (165/179) respectively. Regarding Viral Load (VL), positive agreement was 100% for samples with high VLs (CT80%) between the Abbott and DaAn gene rRTPCR platforms supports interoperability between the two assays. Discordance occurs at low-VL, thus underscoring these tools as efficient weapons in limiting SARS-CoV-2 community transmission.

Keywords

Molecular diagnosis; SARS-CoV-2; rRT-PCR; concordance; Cameroon

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