Scientific Reports (Dec 2021)

Virucidal efficacy of guanidine-free inactivants and rapid test buffers against SARS-CoV-2

  • Katherine Davies,
  • Ulrike Arnold,
  • Hubert Buczkowski,
  • Christopher Burton,
  • Stephen R. Welch,
  • Nicole Green,
  • Rhea Strachan,
  • Tracy Beetar-King,
  • Peter Spencer,
  • Nipunadi Hettiarachchi,
  • Matthew J. Hannah,
  • Matthew Jones,
  • Patricia A. Cane,
  • Christine B. Bruce,
  • Neil Woodford,
  • Allen D. G. Roberts,
  • Marian J. Killip

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-02942-4
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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Abstract A pathogen inactivation step during collection or processing of clinical samples has the potential to reduce infectious risks associated with diagnostic procedures. It is essential that these inactivation methods are demonstrated to be effective, particularly for non-traditional inactivation reagents or for commercial products where the chemical composition is undisclosed. This study assessed inactivation effectiveness of twenty-four next-generation (guanidine-free) nucleic acid extraction lysis buffers and twelve rapid antigen test buffers against SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. These data have significant safety implications for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing and support the design and evidence-based risk assessment of these procedures.