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


Published: 24 May 2022
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Authors

  • Nadine Nguendjoung 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. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8497-7948
  • 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. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1501-2763
  • Ezechiel Ngoufack Jagni 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 Durand 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. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9358-8661
  • 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 Ageboh 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. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5618-1523
  • Roméo Bouba Yagai Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon; University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4187-683X
  • Collins Ambe Chenwi Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6749-1436
  • Michel Carlos Tchouaket Tommo Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7186-8515
  • Grace Angong Beloumou Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon.
  • Aude Christelle 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. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2381-4299
  • Sandrine Claire Ndjeyep 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. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1625-2152
  • Laeticia Grace Heunko Yatchou Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon.
  • Krystel Nnomo 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 Martin 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. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5353-5549
  • 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.

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 (CT<20). Among positive SARS-CoV-2 cases, the mean difference in Cycle Threshold (CT) for the manual and Cycle Number (CN) for the automated was 6.75±0.3. The excellent agreement (>80%) 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.


Fainguem, N. N., Fokam, J., Ngoufack Jagni Semengue, E., Durand Nka, A. ., Takou, D., Ageboh Nkembi-leke, J., Alteri, C., Colagrossi, L., Yagai, R. B., Ambe Chenwi, C., Tchouaket Tommo, M. C., Angong Beloumou, G., Ka’e, A. C., Ndjeyep Djupsa, S. C., Abba, A., Heunko Yatchou, L. G., Nnomo Zam, K., Kamgaing, R. ., Sosso, S. M., Mama, L., Ndembi, N., Colizzi, V. ., Perno, C.-F., Cappelli, G., & Ndjolo, A. (2022). High concordance in SARSCoV- 2 detection between automated (<em>Abbott m2000</em>) and manual (<em>DaAn gene</em>) RT-PCR systems: The EDCTP PERFECT-Study in Cameroon. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2022.2163

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