Validation of the VirCapSeq-VERT system for differential diagnosis, detection, and surveillance of viral infections

Abstract

ABSTRACT There is a need in clinical microbiology and public health for assays that enable sensitive and rapid detection of infectious agents. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) is increasingly used in the fields of oncology and personalized genome medicine but has not gained a wider acceptance for clinical microbiology due to operational and bioinformatics complexity, as well as lower sensitivity compared to agent-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays. VirCapSeq-VERT is a positive selection system for detection, typing, and strain differentiation of both RNA and DNA viruses with sensitivity comparable to qPCR. Here we report the analytical and clinical validation of the VirCapSeq-VERT system for detection of viruses in plasma and nasal secretions that cause systemic and/or respiratory infections. IMPORTANCE Broad range assay for accurate and sensitive diagnostics.