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SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Colorimetric LAMP Assay Kit Enables Visual Detection of Novel Coronavirus
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New England Biolabs® (NEB®) has announced the launch of the SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Colorimetric LAMP Assay Kit, a Research Use Only (RUO) product that can be used for the detection of novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The kit serves as a simple alternative to RT-qPCR and enables visual detection of amplification of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid in just 30 minutes.
The kit utilizes loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to detect specific segments of the viral genome. This system provides a clear visual detection of amplification, based on the generation of protons and the subsequent drop in pH that occurs from the extensive DNA polymerase activity in a LAMP reaction. The decrease in pH produces a color change, with pink indicating a negative result and yellow indicating a positive result.
"RT-qPCR, the predominant nucleic acid amplification technology, requires a laboratory with sophisticated equipment, and can take hours to produce a readout," said Steven Chiu, Product Marketing Manager, DNA Amplification at NEB. "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."
The kit includes WarmStart® Colorimetric LAMP 2X Master Mix with UDG (NEB #M1804) and a primer mix targeting the N and E regions of the viral genome. The WarmStart mix is an optimized formulation of Bst 2.0 WarmStart DNA Polymerase and WarmStart RTx in a special low-buffer reaction solution containing a visible pH indicator for rapid and easy detection of LAMP and RT-LAMP reactions. The inclusion of dUTP and UDG in the master mix reduces the possibility of carryover contamination between reactions.
Key features of the kit include:
- Constant reaction temperature eliminates the need for sophisticated instrumentation, including thermocyclers
- Assay targets N and E regions of the SARS-CoV-2 genome, enabling optimized sensitivity and specificity
- Includes non-template control, positive control, and internal control to verify assay performance
