Lack Of N2-Gene Amplification On The Cepheid Xpert Xpress Sars-Cov-2 Assay And Potential Novel Causative Mutations: A Case Series From Auckland, New Zealand

We describe three cases with viral strains that demonstrate impaired N2-gene detection on the Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 assay, with two previously undescribed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): C29197T and G29227T. We propose that these SNPs are likely responsible since they are in close proximity to the previously described C29200T/C29200A SNPs, already shown to abolish N2-gene detection by the Xpert assay. Whether these SNPs abolish N2-gene detection by the Xpert assay individually or only in combination requires more work to elucidate. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.