Abstract:

Objective To investigate the influence of heating inactivation on the nucleic acid testing results of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2（SARS-CoV-2） throat swab samples. Methods Totally,10 throat swab samples of positive SARS-CoV-2 were collected. The standard thermometer was used to calibrate the temperature and calculate temperature rising time. Throat swab samples of positive SARS-CoV-2 were classified into 56 ℃ 30 min treatment group and untreatment group. Nucleic acid was extracted and amplified by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction（PCR）. Results It took 68 min to heat the sample to 56 ℃ in air bath and 11.5 min in water bath. The results of PCR in 56 ℃ 30 min treatment group after heating showed that the Ct value increased. Of the 10 samples,8 samples were determined as positive in 56 ℃ 30 min treatment group. The samples with low nucleic acid concentration cannot be determined after treatment. Conclusions The heating up time depends on heating medium. Heating inactivation will affect SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing results.

Key words: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Inactivation, Temperature, Time, Nucleic acid testing