Table 1. Description of the most used RT-PCR for diagnosing SARS-Cov-2.

Institution/ country	Primer ID	Method	Findings
China’s CDC – China29,56	ORF1ab, E and N	Three singleplex RT-PCR using fluorescent-labeled probes	Lowest detection limit of ORF1ab was 203 copies/mL Lowest detection limit of E gene was 664 copies/mL Lowest detection limit of N gene was 667 copies/mL
Institut Pasteur – France29	RdRp gene/nCoV_IP2 RdRp gene/nCoV_IP4	Two singleplex RT-PCR or one multiplex RT-PCR with fluorescent-labeled probes	95% assertiveness in samples containing ~ 100 viral copies The multiplex RT-PCR detects 10 viral copies No cross-reactivity with other viruses
CDC – USA29,57	2019-nCoV_N1 2019-nCoV_N2 2019-nCoV_N3	Three singleplex RT-PCR using fluorescent-labeled probes	95% assertiveness in samples containing 100,5 RNA copies/µL using automatic RNA extraction and 100 RNA copies/µL using manual RNA extraction
Charité – Germany29,58	RdRP_SARSr E_Sarbeco	Two singleplex RT-PCR, the screening made by the E gene amplification confirmed by RdRP	Lowest detection limit of RdRp and E_Sarbeco 3.8 and 5.2 copies/reaction, respectively
HKU - Hong Kong29,59	ORF1b-nsp14 N	Two RT-PCR, firstly the N gene amplification with fluorescent-labed probe followed by confirmation by amplifying the ORF1b-nsp14 with fluorescent-labeled probe	N gene Ct values up to 35.43 were positive corresponding to 15 copies/reaction ORF1b Ct values up to 38.97 were positive corresponding to 1.5 copies/reaction
National Institute of Health – Thailand29,59	N	Singleplex RT-PCR with fluorescent-labeled probe	N gene Ct values were positive up to 38.12, corresponding to 15 copies/reaction

CDC = Center for Disease Control and Prevention; HKU = Hong Kong University.