Point-of-Care Testing for Norovirus Typing Using CRISPR/Cas12a Combined with Reverse Transcription Recombinase Polymerase Amplification

Noroviruses (NoVs) are one of the leading causes of acute gastroenteritis in humans. This study combined reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) with a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR-associated protein (CRISPR/Cas) nucleic acid detection system to develop a point-of-care testing (POCT) technology for typing NoVs. The detection can be completed within 35 min at 37 °C, covering each genotype of genogroup I (GI) and II (GII) NoVs. The sensitivity of this method is 10 copies/μL for GI and 1 copy/μL for GII NoV plasmids. For the detection of clinical samples, the detection results of this method for NoV infected samples are consistent with the RT-qPCR detection method in the laboratory, and this detection method has no cross-reactivity with rotavirus and adenovirus. Therefore, the detection method established in this study enables the diagnosis and screening of suspected patients and close contacts by POCT, which is important for the timely identification and control of NoV outbreaks. In addition, the typing detection of GI and GII NoVs can achieve a precise diagnosis and treatment of patients infected with NoVs.