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. 2021 Jan 13;12(1):90. doi: 10.3390/genes12010090

Figure 3.

Figure 3

Evaluation of the SARS-CoV-2 detection capability in guanidine hydrochloride (red) (a) and in 0.45% saline (blue) (b) after 10 and 50 days of incubation at room temperature (Nasopharyngeal samples). The N1 Cq values were slightly increased on day 10 versus day 0 for both tubes additives suggesting that a reliable SARS-CoV-2 detection can be performed for 10 days at room temperature after sample collection. However, the N1 Cq values were higher on day 50 versus day 0 for both tubes’ additives, indicating that after 50 days at room temperature, the diagnostic capability is affected, especially in guanidine hydrochloride. In summary, SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics can reliably be performed in both 0.45% saline and guanidine hydrochloride after sample storage for 10 days at room temperature, but for extended periods (e.g., 50 days), the detection seems to be more reliable in 0.45% saline. The dashed line is the Cq value cut-off value and a Cq of 45 was arbitrarily attributed to samples where SARS-CoV-2 was not detected.