TABLE 1.
Comparison of key characteristics displayed by the two high-throughput systems and their associated RT-PCR assays analyzed in this study
| Characteristic | cobas SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR (Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.) | Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR (Hologic, Inc.) |
|---|---|---|
| Instrument | cobas 6800 | Panther Fusion |
| Specimen type tested in study | Nasopharyngeal swab | Nasopharyngeal swab |
| Minimum vol required (ml) | 0.6 | 0.5 |
| Specimen inactivated prior to loading on the instrument | No | Yes |
| Loci detected | ORF1ab (SARS-CoV-2 specific), E gene (pan-Sarbecovirus) | ORF1ab regions 1 and 2 (SARS-CoV-2 specific) |
| Limit of detection (TCID50/ml)a | ORF1ab, 0.007; E gene, 0.004 | ORF1ab regions 1 and 2, 0.01 |
| Test throughput/24 h (assuming 100% efficiency) | 1,440 | 1,150 |
| Time to first result (h) | ∼3.5 | ∼2.5 |
| Loading | Batchb | Random accessc |
TCID50, tissue culture infectious dose which infects 50% of cells.
Batch-based processing allows loading of the specimens to be processed in batches using the same test or multiple tests with the same amplification conditions. With respect to the cobas 6800 system, batches of specimens (up to 96) can be continuously loaded and assays can be continuously processed.
Random access permits loading of specimens in any order at any time (including different specimen types) to be processed using different tests. With respect to the Panther Fusion system, specimens can be continuously loaded (including one at a time) and continuously analyzed.