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2. Nationwide quality assurance of high-throughput diagnostic molecular testing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: role of the Belgian National Reference Centre

Author

Janssen, Reile, Cuypers, Lize, Laenen, Lies, Keyaerts, Els, Beuselinck, Kurt, Janssenswillen, Sunita, Slechten, Bram, Bode, Jannes, Wollants, Elke, Van Laethem, Kristel, Rector, Annabel, Bloemen, Mandy, Sijmons, Anke, de Schaetzen, Nathalie, Capron, Arnaud, Van Baelen, Kurt, Pascal, Thierry, Vermeiren, Céline, Bureau, Fabrice, Vandesompele, Jo, De Smet, Pieter, Uten, Wouter, Malonne, Hugues, Kerkhofs, Pierre, De Cock, Jo, Matheeussen, Veerle, Verhasselt, Bruno, Gillet, Laurent, Detry, Gautier, Bearzatto, Bertrand, Degosserie, Jonathan, Henin, Coralie, Pairoux, Gregor, Maes, Piet, Van Ranst, Marc, Lagrou, Katrien, Dequeker, Elisabeth, and André, Emmanuel

Published
2024
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3. Respiratory Viruses in Wastewater Compared with Clinical Samples, Leuven, Belgium

Author

Rector, Annabel, Bloemen, Mandy, Thijssen, Marijn, Pussig, Bram, Beuselinck, Kurt, Van Ranst, Marc, and Wollants, Elke

Subjects
Lung diseases -- Comparative analysis -- Health aspects, Wastewater -- Comparative analysis -- Health aspects, Influenza -- Health aspects -- Comparative analysis, Water treatment plants -- Health aspects -- Comparative analysis, Sewage -- Purification, Health
Abstract

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, wastewater-based surveillance has been used to track circulation levels of SARS-CoV-2 (1,2). For that purpose, we began collecting samples from a regional wastewater treatment plant [...]

Published
2024
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6. An observational cohort study of histological screening for BK polyomavirus nephropathy following viral replication in plasma

Author

Cleenders, Evert, Koshy, Priyanka, Van Loon, Elisabet, Lagrou, Katrien, Beuselinck, Kurt, Andrei, Graciela, Crespo, Marta, De Vusser, Katrien, Kuypers, Dirk, Lerut, Evelyne, Mertens, Kris, Mineeva-Sangwo, Olga, Randhawa, Parmjeet, Senev, Aleksandar, Snoeck, Robert, Sprangers, Ben, Tinel, Claire, Van Craenenbroeck, Amaryllis, van den Brand, Jan, Van Ranst, Marc, Verbeke, Geert, Coemans, Maarten, and Naesens, Maarten

Published
2023
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7. Full-genome next-generation sequencing of hepatitis C virus to assess the accuracy of genotyping by the commercial assay LiPA and the prevalence of resistance-associated substitutions in a Belgian cohort

Author

Christensen, Kasper T., Pierard, Florian, Beuselinck, Kurt, Bonsall, David, Bowden, Rory, Lagrou, Katrien, Nevens, Frederik, Schrooten, Yoeri, Simmonds, Peter, Vandamme, Anne-Mieke, Van Wijngaerden, Eric, Dierckx, Tim, Cuypers, Lize, and Van Laethem, Kristel

Published
2022
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8. Centralised Air Sampling From a Ventilation System for the Surveillance of Respiratory Pathogens.

Author

Happaerts, Michiel, Geenen, Caspar, Michiels, Jade, Gorissen, Sarah, Swinnen, Jens, Beuselinck, Kurt, Laenen, Lies, Raymenants, Joren, Lorent, Natalie, Ombelet, Sien, Keyaerts, Els, André, Emmanuel, and Yun, Geun Young

Subjects
AIR sampling, AIR conditioning, COMMUNICABLE diseases, RESPIRATORY organs, SCALABILITY, VENTILATION
Abstract

Background: The COVID‐19 pandemic has triggered a renewed interest in indoor air sampling for infectious disease surveillance. However, scalability is currently limited, as samples are usually collected in a single indoor space. An alternative is to place the device within a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC), but this approach has not been tested against room air sampling. Methods: In this observational study, we sampled the air in an indoor fitness centre for 2 or 6 h, simultaneously in three locations of the main exercise hall and in the return plenum of the HVAC system. Samples were collected twice weekly for 11 weeks. All samples were tested for 29 respiratory pathogens using PCR. We compared the ventilation system and exercise hall air with regard to the presence and quantity of pathogens. Findings: Samples collected in two locations in the exercise hall had a similar overall sensitivity to the HVAC sampler for detecting pathogens, while a third sampling location was associated with significantly lower sensitivity. Overall, the pathogen concentration was similar in the ventilation system and the exercise hall air (ratio: 1.0; 95% CI: 0.8–1.3). Interpretation: Our results show that air sampling within a ventilation system can have equal sensitivity for detecting respiratory pathogens, compared to room‐based sampling. Thus, placing samplers within central ventilation systems could increase the scalability of air sampling for infectious disease surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2024
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12. Diagnostic accuracy of digital RNA quantification versus real-time PCR for the detection of respiratory syncytial virus in nasopharyngeal aspirates from children with acute respiratory infection

Author

Bouzas, Maiara L., Oliveira, Juliana R., Queiroz, Artur, Fukutani, Kiyoshi F., Barral, Aldina, Rector, Annabel, Wollants, Elke, Keyaerts, Els, Van der Gucht, Winke, Van Ranst, Marc, Beuselinck, Kurt, de Oliveira, Camila I., Van Weyenbergh, Johan, and Nascimento-Carvalho, Cristiana M.

Published
2018
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17. Natural ventilation, low CO2 and air filtration are associated with reduced indoor air respiratory pathogens

Author

Raymenants, Joren, primary, Geenen, Caspar, additional, Budts, Lore, additional, Thibaut, Jonathan, additional, Thijssen, Marijn, additional, De Mulder, Hannelore, additional, Gorissen, Sarah, additional, Craessaerts, Bastiaan, additional, Laenen, Lies, additional, Beuselinck, Kurt, additional, Ombelet, Sien, additional, Keyaerts, Els, additional, and André, Emmanuel, additional

Published
2022
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18. Nationwide Harmonization Effort for Semi-Quantitative Reporting of SARS-CoV-2 PCR Test Results in Belgium

Author

Cuypers, Lize, primary, Bode, Jannes, additional, Beuselinck, Kurt, additional, Laenen, Lies, additional, Dewaele, Klaas, additional, Janssen, Reile, additional, Capron, Arnaud, additional, Lafort, Yves, additional, Paridaens, Henry, additional, Bearzatto, Bertrand, additional, Cauchie, Mathieu, additional, Huwart, Aline, additional, Degosserie, Jonathan, additional, Fagnart, Olivier, additional, Overmeire, Yarah, additional, Rouffiange, Arlette, additional, Vandecandelaere, Ilse, additional, Deffontaine, Marine, additional, Pilate, Thomas, additional, Yin, Nicolas, additional, Micalessi, Isabel, additional, Roisin, Sandrine, additional, Moons, Veronique, additional, Reynders, Marijke, additional, Steyaert, Sophia, additional, Henin, Coralie, additional, Lazarova, Elena, additional, Obbels, Dagmar, additional, Dufrasne, François E., additional, Pirenne, Hendri, additional, Schepers, Raf, additional, Collin, Anaëlle, additional, Verhasselt, Bruno, additional, Gillet, Laurent, additional, Jonckheere, Stijn, additional, Van Lint, Philippe, additional, Van den Poel, Bea, additional, Van der Beken, Yolien, additional, Stojkovic, Violeta, additional, Garrino, Maria-Grazia, additional, Segers, Hannah, additional, Vos, Kevin, additional, Godefroid, Maaike, additional, Pede, Valerie, additional, Nollet, Friedel, additional, Claes, Vincent, additional, Verschraegen, Inge, additional, Bogaerts, Pierre, additional, Van Gysel, Marjan, additional, Leurs, Judith, additional, Saegeman, Veroniek, additional, Soetens, Oriane, additional, Vanhee, Merijn, additional, Schiettekatte, Gilberte, additional, Huyghe, Evelyne, additional, Martens, Steven, additional, Lemmens, Ann, additional, Nailis, Heleen, additional, Laffineur, Kim, additional, Steensels, Deborah, additional, Vanlaere, Elke, additional, Gras, Jérémie, additional, Roussel, Gatien, additional, Gijbels, Koenraad, additional, Boudewijns, Michael, additional, Sion, Catherine, additional, Achtergael, Wim, additional, Maurissen, Wim, additional, Iliano, Luc, additional, Chantrenne, Marianne, additional, Vanheule, Geert, additional, Flies, Reinoud, additional, Hougardy, Nicolas, additional, Berth, Mario, additional, Verbeke, Vanessa, additional, Morent, Robin, additional, Vankeerberghen, Anne, additional, Bontems, Sébastien, additional, Kehoe, Kaat, additional, Schallier, Anneleen, additional, Ho, Giang, additional, Bafort, Kristof, additional, Raymaekers, Marijke, additional, Pypen, Yolande, additional, Heinrichs, Amelie, additional, Schuermans, Wim, additional, Cuigniez, Dominique, additional, Lali, Salah Eddine, additional, Drieghe, Stefanie, additional, Ory, Dieter, additional, Le Mercier, Marie, additional, Van Laethem, Kristel, additional, Thoelen, Inge, additional, Vandamme, Sarah, additional, Mansoor, Iqbal, additional, Vael, Carl, additional, De Sloovere, Maxime, additional, Declerck, Katrien, additional, Dequeker, Elisabeth, additional, Desmet, Stefanie, additional, Maes, Piet, additional, Lagrou, Katrien, additional, and André, Emmanuel, additional

Published
2022
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19. Environmental circulation of adenovirus 40/41 and SARS-CoV-2 in the context of the emergence of acute hepatitis of unknown origin

Author

Wollants, Elke, primary, Keyaerts, Els, additional, Cuypers, Lize, additional, Bloemen, Mandy, additional, Thijssen, Marijn, additional, Ombelet, Sien, additional, Raymenants, Joren, additional, Beuselinck, Kurt, additional, Laenen, Lies, additional, Budts, Lore, additional, Pussig, Bram, additional, Lagrou, Katrien, additional, Van Ranst, Marc, additional, and André, Emmanuel, additional

Published
2022
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20. Nationwide Harmonization Effort for Semi-Quantitative Reporting of SARS-CoV-2 PCR Test Results in Belgium.

Author

UCL - (MGD) Laboratoire de biologie clinique, UCL - SSS/IREC/MONT - Pôle Mont Godinne, Cuypers, Lize, Bode, Jannes, Beuselinck, Kurt, Laenen, Lies, Dewaele, Klaas, Janssen, Reile, Capron, Arnaud, Lafort, Yves, Paridaens, Henry, Bearzatto, Bertrand, Cauchie, Mathieu, Huwart, Aline, Degosserie, Jonathan, Fagnart, Olivier, Overmeire, Yarah, Rouffiange, Arlette, Vandecandelaere, Ilse, Deffontaine, Marine, Pilate, Thomas, Yin, Nicolas, Micalessi, Isabel, Roisin, Sandrine, Moons, Veronique, Reynders, Marijke, Steyaert, Sophia, Henin, Coralie, Lazarova, Elena, Obbels, Dagmar, Dufrasne, François E, Pirenne, Hendri, Schepers, Raf, Collin, Anaëlle, Verhasselt, Bruno, Gillet, Laurent, Jonckheere, Stijn, Van Lint, Philippe, Van den Poel, Bea, Van der Beken, Yolien, Stojkovic, Violeta, Garrino, Maria-Grazia, Segers, Hannah, Vos, Kevin, Godefroid, Maaike, Pede, Valerie, Nollet, Friedel, Claes, Vincent, Verschraegen, Inge, Bogaerts, Pierre, Van Gysel, Marjan, Leurs, Judith, Saegeman, Veroniek, Soetens, Oriane, Vanhee, Merijn, Schiettekatte, Gilberte, Huyghe, Evelyne, Martens, Steven, Lemmens, Ann, Nailis, Heleen, Laffineur, Kim, Steensels, Deborah, Vanlaere, Elke, Gras, Jérémie, Roussel, Gatien, Gijbels, Koenraad, Boudewijns, Michael, Sion, Catherine, Achtergael, Wim, Maurissen, Wim, Iliano, Luc, Chantrenne, Marianne, Vanheule, Geert, Flies, Reinoud, Hougardy, Nicolas, Berth, Mario, Verbeke, Vanessa, Morent, Robin, Vankeerberghen, Anne, Bontems, Sébastien, Kehoe, Kaat, Schallier, Anneleen, Ho, Giang, Bafort, Kristof, Raymaekers, Marijke, Pypen, Yolande, Heinrichs, Amelie, Schuermans, Wim, Cuigniez, Dominique, Lali, Salah Eddine, Drieghe, Stefanie, Ory, Dieter, Le Mercier, Marie, Van Laethem, Kristel, Thoelen, Inge, Vandamme, Sarah, Mansoor, Iqbal, Vael, Carl, De Sloovere, Maxime, Declerck, Katrien, Dequeker, Elisabeth, Desmet, Stefanie, Maes, Piet, Lagrou, Katrien, André, Emmanuel, UCL - (MGD) Laboratoire de biologie clinique, UCL - SSS/IREC/MONT - Pôle Mont Godinne, Cuypers, Lize, Bode, Jannes, Beuselinck, Kurt, Laenen, Lies, Dewaele, Klaas, Janssen, Reile, Capron, Arnaud, Lafort, Yves, Paridaens, Henry, Bearzatto, Bertrand, Cauchie, Mathieu, Huwart, Aline, Degosserie, Jonathan, Fagnart, Olivier, Overmeire, Yarah, Rouffiange, Arlette, Vandecandelaere, Ilse, Deffontaine, Marine, Pilate, Thomas, Yin, Nicolas, Micalessi, Isabel, Roisin, Sandrine, Moons, Veronique, Reynders, Marijke, Steyaert, Sophia, Henin, Coralie, Lazarova, Elena, Obbels, Dagmar, Dufrasne, François E, Pirenne, Hendri, Schepers, Raf, Collin, Anaëlle, Verhasselt, Bruno, Gillet, Laurent, Jonckheere, Stijn, Van Lint, Philippe, Van den Poel, Bea, Van der Beken, Yolien, Stojkovic, Violeta, Garrino, Maria-Grazia, Segers, Hannah, Vos, Kevin, Godefroid, Maaike, Pede, Valerie, Nollet, Friedel, Claes, Vincent, Verschraegen, Inge, Bogaerts, Pierre, Van Gysel, Marjan, Leurs, Judith, Saegeman, Veroniek, Soetens, Oriane, Vanhee, Merijn, Schiettekatte, Gilberte, Huyghe, Evelyne, Martens, Steven, Lemmens, Ann, Nailis, Heleen, Laffineur, Kim, Steensels, Deborah, Vanlaere, Elke, Gras, Jérémie, Roussel, Gatien, Gijbels, Koenraad, Boudewijns, Michael, Sion, Catherine, Achtergael, Wim, Maurissen, Wim, Iliano, Luc, Chantrenne, Marianne, Vanheule, Geert, Flies, Reinoud, Hougardy, Nicolas, Berth, Mario, Verbeke, Vanessa, Morent, Robin, Vankeerberghen, Anne, Bontems, Sébastien, Kehoe, Kaat, Schallier, Anneleen, Ho, Giang, Bafort, Kristof, Raymaekers, Marijke, Pypen, Yolande, Heinrichs, Amelie, Schuermans, Wim, Cuigniez, Dominique, Lali, Salah Eddine, Drieghe, Stefanie, Ory, Dieter, Le Mercier, Marie, Van Laethem, Kristel, Thoelen, Inge, Vandamme, Sarah, Mansoor, Iqbal, Vael, Carl, De Sloovere, Maxime, Declerck, Katrien, Dequeker, Elisabeth, Desmet, Stefanie, Maes, Piet, Lagrou, Katrien, and André, Emmanuel

Abstract

From early 2020, a high demand for SARS-CoV-2 tests was driven by several testing indications, including asymptomatic cases, resulting in the massive roll-out of PCR assays to combat the pandemic. Considering the dynamic of viral shedding during the course of infection, the demand to report cycle threshold (Ct) values rapidly emerged. As Ct values can be affected by a number of factors, we considered that harmonization of semi-quantitative PCR results across laboratories would avoid potential divergent interpretations, particularly in the absence of clinical or serological information. A proposal to harmonize reporting of test results was drafted by the National Reference Centre (NRC) UZ/KU Leuven, distinguishing four categories of positivity based on RNA copies/mL. Pre-quantified control material was shipped to 124 laboratories with instructions to setup a standard curve to define thresholds per assay. For each assay, the mean Ct value and corresponding standard deviation was calculated per target gene, for the three concentrations (10, 10 and 10 copies/mL) that determine the classification. The results of 17 assays are summarized. This harmonization effort allowed to ensure that all Belgian laboratories would report positive PCR results in the same semi-quantitative manner to clinicians and to the national database which feeds contact tracing interventions.

Published
2022

21. Meta-analysis of the clinical performance of commercial SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid and antibody tests up to 22 August 2020

Author

Van Walle, Ivo, Leitmeyer, Katrin, Broberg, Eeva K, Van Esbroeck, Marjan, Beuselinck, Kurt, Vermeersch, Pieter, Karagiannis, Christos, Mentis, Andreas, Lampropoulou, Stavroula, Erlund, Iris, Melin, Merit, Ekström, Nina, Vihervaara, Terhi, Gaymard, Alexandre, Frobert, Emilie, Escuret, Vanessa, Kurolt, Ivan-Christian, Fournier, Guillaume, Abdelrahman, Tamir, Nguyen, Trung, Klak, Adrian, Bos, Anne E, Russcher, Anne, van ’t Veen, Annemarie, Stemerding, Annette M, van Corteveen-Splinter, Annette, van Hees, Babette C, Wintermans, Bas B, Herpers, Bjorn L, Reusken, Chantal BEM, van der Donk, Christel FM, Oliveira dos Santos, Claudy, GeurtsvanKessel, Corine H, Timmerman, Cornelis P, Ong, David SY, Kaersenhout, Deborah J, van Lochem, Ellen, Geeraedts, Felix, Rijkers, Ger T, Berkhout, Hannke, Koeleman, Hans GM, van Loo, Inge HM, Rahamat-Langendoen, Janette, Murk, Jean-Luc, Tjhie, Jeroen HT, Kissing, Johan, Reimerink, Johan, Kerremans, Jos J, de Vries, Jutte JC, Heemstra, Karen A, Thai, Khoa TD, Jim, Kin Ki, Mulder, Leontine, van den Beld, Maaike JC, Batstra, Manou R, Konstantinovski, Maria M, Wegdam-Blans, Marjolijn CA, Hoogewerf, Martine, de Graaf, Melanie J, de Jong, Menno D., Heron, Michiel, van Rijn, Michiel, Heusinkveld, Moniek, Van Burgel, Nathalie, Savelkoul, Paul HM, den Reijer, Paul Martijn, Wever, Peter C, Croughs, Peter, Zonneveld, Rens, van Gyseghem, Sim, Thijsen, Steven FT, Stoof, Susanne P, Jurriaans, Suzanne, Debast, Sylvia B, Mank, Theo, Hira, Vishal, Michalski, Aleksander, Siewierska-Puchlerska, Anna, Gajda, Ewa, Paciorek, Jarosław, Pakieła, Marta, Kołakowska-Kulesza, Agnieszka, Pancer, Katarzyna, Nowakowska, Magdalena, Costa, Inês, Zé-Zé, Líbia, Guiomar, Raquel, Hammas, Berit, Öckinger, Johan Brynedal, Prosenc, Katarina, and Berginc, Nataša

Subjects
Infecções Respiratórias, medicine.medical_specialty, Epidemiology, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), diagnostic, specificity, Sensitivity and Specificity, Gastroenterology, Asymptomatic, Nucleic Acids, Virology, Internal medicine, medicine, Humans, media_common.cataloged_instance, European union, Pandemics, media_common, Infecções Sistémicas e Zoonoses, accuracy, biology, SARS-CoV-2, business.industry, Research, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, COVID-19, sensitivity, Confidence interval, meta-analysis, Study heterogeneity, Meta-analysis, biology.protein, Nucleic acid, Antibody Tests, Antibody, medicine.symptom, business
Abstract

Background Reliable testing for SARS-CoV-2 is key for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Aim We estimate diagnostic accuracy for nucleic acid and antibody tests 5 months into the COVID-19 pandemic, and compare with manufacturer-reported accuracy. Methods We reviewed the clinical performance of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid and antibody tests based on 93,757 test results from 151 published studies and 20,205 new test results from 12 countries in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA). Results Pooling the results and considering only results with 95% confidence interval width ≤ 5%, we found four nucleic acid tests, including one point-of-care test and three antibody tests, with a clinical sensitivity ≥ 95% for at least one target population (hospitalised, mild or asymptomatic, or unknown). Nine nucleic acid tests and 25 antibody tests, 12 of them point-of-care tests, had a clinical specificity of ≥ 98%. Three antibody tests achieved both thresholds. Evidence for nucleic acid point-of-care tests remains scarce at present, and sensitivity varied substantially. Study heterogeneity was low for eight of 14 sensitivity and 68 of 84 specificity results with confidence interval width ≤ 5%, and lower for nucleic acid tests than antibody tests. Manufacturer-reported clinical performance was significantly higher than independently assessed in 11 of 32 and four of 34 cases, respectively, for sensitivity and specificity, indicating a need for improvement in this area. Conclusion Continuous monitoring of clinical performance within more clearly defined target populations is needed.

Published
2021

24. Laboratory information system requirements to manage the COVID-19 pandemic: A report from the Belgian national reference testing center

Author

Weemaes, Matthias, primary, Martens, Steven, additional, Cuypers, Lize, additional, Van Elslande, Jan, additional, Hoet, Katrien, additional, Welkenhuysen, Joris, additional, Goossens, Ria, additional, Wouters, Stijn, additional, Houben, Els, additional, Jeuris, Kirsten, additional, Laenen, Lies, additional, Bruyninckx, Katrien, additional, Beuselinck, Kurt, additional, André, Emmanuel, additional, Depypere, Melissa, additional, Desmet, Stefanie, additional, Lagrou, Katrien, additional, Van Ranst, Marc, additional, Verdonck, Ann K L C, additional, and Goveia, Jermaine, additional

Published
2020
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29. No SARS‐CoV‐2 carriage observed in children attending daycare centers during the intial weeks of the epidemic in Belgium.

Author

Desmet, Stefanie, Ekinci, Esra, Wouters, Ine, Decru, Bram, Beuselinck, Kurt, Malhotra‐Kumar, Surbhi, and Theeten, Heidi

Subjects
DAY care centers, SARS-CoV-2, EPIDEMICS, COMMON cold, POLYMERASE chain reaction
Abstract

To gain knowledge about the role of young children attending daycare in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) epidemic, a random sample of children (n = 84) aged between 6 and 30 months attending daycare in Belgium was studied shortly after the start of the epidemic (February 29th) and before the lockdown (March 18th) by performing in‐house SARS‐CoV‐2 real‐time polymerase chain reaction. No asymptomatic carriage of SARS‐CoV‐2 was detected, whereas common cold symptoms were common (51.2%). Our study shows that in Belgium, there was no sign of early introduction into daycare centers at the moment children being not yet isolated at home, although the virus was clearly circulating. It is clear that more evidence is needed to understand the actual role of young children in the transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 and their infection risk when attending daycare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2021
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33. Molecular typing and epidemiology of enteroviruses identified from an outbreak of aseptic meningitis in Belgium during the summer of 2000.

Author

Thoelen, Inge, Lemey, Philippe, Van Der Donck, Ingrid, Beuselinck, Kurt, Lindberg, A Michael, Van Ranst, Marc, Thoelen, Inge, Lemey, Philippe, Van Der Donck, Ingrid, Beuselinck, Kurt, Lindberg, A Michael, and Van Ranst, Marc

Abstract

Non-polio enteroviruses are the most common cause of aseptic meningitis worldwide. From May to September 2000, a major outbreak of aseptic meningitis occurred in Belgium. Cerebrospinal fluid samples (CSF) of 122 patients were found to contain enterovirus RNA using diagnostic RT-PCR that targeted a 231-bp gene fragment in the 5' noncoding region. In addition, a molecular typing method was developed based on RT-nested PCR and sequencing directly from CSF(a) 358-bp fragment in the aminoterminal part of the VP1 capsid protein. To identify the enterovirus type, nucleotide sequences of the VP1 amplicons were compared to all the enterovirus VP1 sequences available in GenBank. Echovirus 30 (31.2%), echovirus 13 (23.8%), and echovirus 6 (20.5%) were identified most frequently during the epidemic. Coxsackievirus B5 was present in 15.6% of the samples, and could be subdivided in two distinct epidemic clusters, coxsackievirus B5a (10.7%) and B5b (4.9%). Other enteroviruses encountered were echovirus 16 (5.7%), echovirus 18 (1.6%), coxsackievirus B4 (0.8%) and echovirus 7 (0.8%). The high prevalence of echovirus 13, considered previously a rare serotype, indicates it is an emerging epidemic type. To verify the typing results and to explore further the intratypical genetic variation, phylogenetic analysis was carried out. Geographical clustering of most of the strains within each type and subtype could be observed. The RT-nested PCR strategy, carried out directly on clinical samples, is a simple and rapid method for adequate molecular typing of the Group B enteroviruses causing aseptic meningitis.

Published
2003
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40. Beta-d-Glucan for Diagnosing PneumocystisPneumonia: a Direct Comparison between the Wako ß-Glucan Assay and the Fungitell Assay

Author

Mercier, Toine, Guldentops, Ellen, Patteet, Sofie, Beuselinck, Kurt, Lagrou, Katrien, and Maertens, Johan

Abstract

Measuring serum beta-d-glucan (BDG) is a useful tool for supporting a quantitative PCR (qPCR)-based diagnosis of suspected Pneumocystispneumonia (PCP) with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Since the 2000s, the Fungitell assay was the only BDG assay which was FDA cleared and Conformité Européenne (CE) marked.

Published
2019
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41. Nationwide Harmonization Effort for Semi-Quantitative Reporting of SARS-CoV-2 PCR Test Results in Belgium

Author

Lize Cuypers, Jannes Bode, Kurt Beuselinck, Lies Laenen, Klaas Dewaele, Reile Janssen, Arnaud Capron, Yves Lafort, Henry Paridaens, Bertrand Bearzatto, Mathieu Cauchie, Aline Huwart, Jonathan Degosserie, Olivier Fagnart, Yarah Overmeire, Arlette Rouffiange, Ilse Vandecandelaere, Marine Deffontaine, Thomas Pilate, Nicolas Yin, Isabel Micalessi, Sandrine Roisin, Veronique Moons, Marijke Reynders, Sophia Steyaert, Coralie Henin, Elena Lazarova, Dagmar Obbels, François E. Dufrasne, Hendri Pirenne, Raf Schepers, Anaëlle Collin, Bruno Verhasselt, Laurent Gillet, Stijn Jonckheere, Philippe Van Lint, Bea Van den Poel, Yolien Van der Beken, Violeta Stojkovic, Maria-Grazia Garrino, Hannah Segers, Kevin Vos, Maaike Godefroid, Valerie Pede, Friedel Nollet, Vincent Claes, Inge Verschraegen, Pierre Bogaerts, Marjan Van Gysel, Judith Leurs, Veroniek Saegeman, Oriane Soetens, Merijn Vanhee, Gilberte Schiettekatte, Evelyne Huyghe, Steven Martens, Ann Lemmens, Heleen Nailis, Kim Laffineur, Deborah Steensels, Elke Vanlaere, Jérémie Gras, Gatien Roussel, Koenraad Gijbels, Michael Boudewijns, Catherine Sion, Wim Achtergael, Wim Maurissen, Luc Iliano, Marianne Chantrenne, Geert Vanheule, Reinoud Flies, Nicolas Hougardy, Mario Berth, Vanessa Verbeke, Robin Morent, Anne Vankeerberghen, Sébastien Bontems, Kaat Kehoe, Anneleen Schallier, Giang Ho, Kristof Bafort, Marijke Raymaekers, Yolande Pypen, Amelie Heinrichs, Wim Schuermans, Dominique Cuigniez, Salah Eddine Lali, Stefanie Drieghe, Dieter Ory, Marie Le Mercier, Kristel Van Laethem, Inge Thoelen, Sarah Vandamme, Iqbal Mansoor, Carl Vael, Maxime De Sloovere, Katrien Declerck, Elisabeth Dequeker, Stefanie Desmet, Piet Maes, Katrien Lagrou, Emmanuel André, Dufrasne, Francois/0000-0001-6288-7936, Yin, Nicolas/0000-0003-1706-6869, Van Laethem, Kristel/0000-0001-6036-2271, Micalessi, Isabel, Ory , Dieter, Dequeker, Elisabeth, CLAES , Vincent, Verhasselt, Bruno, Moons, Veronique, Soetens, Oriane, Godefroid, Maaike, Verschraegen, Inge, Pirenne, Hendri, Gillet, Laurent, Heinrichs, Amelie, Huwart, Aline, Vanhee, Merijn, Vandamme, Sarah, Maurissen, Wim, Laenen , Lies, Reynders , Marijke, Thoelen, Inge, Gras, Jeremie, Berth, Mario, Obbels, Dagmar, Vanheule, Geert, Maes, Piet, Bafort, Kristof, Flies, Reinoud, Janssen, Reile, van den Poel, Bea, Bontems, Sebastien, Schepers , Raf, Overmeire, Yarah, Boudewijns, Michael, van der Beken, Yolien, Cuypers , Lize, Bode, Jannes, Vos, Kevin, Paridaens, Henry, Achtergael, Wim, Saegeman, Veroniek, Rouffiange, Arlette, Dewaele, Klaas, Pypen, Yolande, Yin, Nicolas, Drieghe, Stefanie, Nailis, Heleen, Kehoe, Kaat, DE SMET, Stefanie, Verbeke, Vanessa, Vanlaere, Elke, Vael, Carl, Van Laethem, Kristel, Segers, Hannah, Pede, Valerie, Deffontaine, Marine, Martens , Steven, Lemmens, Ann, Vankeerberghen, Anne, Lagrou, Katrien, Iliano, Luc, Chantrenne, Marianne, Laffineur, Kim, Bearzatto, Bertrand, Vandecandelaere, Ilse, Sion, Catherine, Andre, Emmanuel, Cuigniez, Dominique, Pilate, Thomas, Capron, Arnaud, Nollet, Friedel, Roisin, Sandrine, Gijbels, Koenraad, Van Lint, Philippe, Bogaerts, Pierre, Lafort, Yves, Henin, Coralie, Van Gysel, Marjan, Huyghe, Evelyne, Lali, Salah Eddine, Roussel, Gatien, Garrino, Maria-Grazia, Schuermans, Wim, Steyaert, Sophia, Le Mercier, Marie, De Sloovere, Maxime, Leurs, Judith, STEENSELS, Deborah, Declerck, Katrien, Dufrasne, Francois E., Fagnart, Olivier, Ho, Giang, Lazarova, Elena, Schallier, Anneleen, Beuselinck, Kurt, Morent, Robin, Hougardy, Nicolas, Raymaekers, Marijke, Jonckheere, Stijn, Stojkovic, Violeta, Degosserie, Jonathan, Cauchie, Mathieu, Schiettekatte, Gilberte, Collin, Anaelle, Mansoor, Iqbal, Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences and Solvay Business School, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Supporting clinical sciences, Microbiology and Infection Control, Clinical Biology, Experimental Pharmacology, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, UCL - (MGD) Laboratoire de biologie clinique, and UCL - SSS/IREC/MONT - Pôle Mont Godinne

Subjects
SARS-CoV-2, PCR, semi-quantitative reporting, RNA copies/mL, infectivity, COVID-19/diagnosis, COVID-19, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, mL, Infectious Diseases, Belgium, SARS-CoV-2/genetics, Virology, Humans, RNA copies, Human medicine, Belgium/epidemiology, Pandemics
Abstract

From early 2020, a high demand for SARS-CoV-2 tests was driven by several testing indications, including asymptomatic cases, resulting in the massive roll-out of PCR assays to combat the pandemic. Considering the dynamic of viral shedding during the course of infection, the demand to report cycle threshold (Ct) values rapidly emerged. As Ct values can be affected by a number of factors, we considered that harmonization of semi-quantitative PCR results across laboratories would avoid potential divergent interpretations, particularly in the absence of clinical or serological information. A proposal to harmonize reporting of test results was drafted by the National Reference Centre (NRC) UZ/KU Leuven, distinguishing four categories of positivity based on RNA copies/mL. Pre-quantified control material was shipped to 124 laboratories with instructions to setup a standard curve to define thresholds per assay. For each assay, the mean Ct value and corresponding standard deviation was calculated per target gene, for the three concentrations (10(7), 10(5) and 10(3) copies/mL) that determine the classification. The results of 17 assays are summarized. This harmonization effort allowed to ensure that all Belgian laboratories would report positive PCR results in the same semi-quantitative manner to clinicians and to the national database which feeds contact tracing interventions. UZ/KU Leuven: as National Reference Center for Respiratory Pathogens, is supported by Sciensano, which is gratefully acknowledged. We would like to acknowledge additional staff members of the participating laboratories that contributed to this study: Jean-Luc Gala, Benoit Kabamba, Elsa Wiam, Valentin Coste, Paul Blanpain, Jean Ruelle, Ari Serbetciyan, Nicolas Pinte, Ophélie Simon and the entire UCLouvain federal testing platform COVID-19 team (all affiliation 4), Aurore Demars (affiliation 7), Laura Vanden Daele (affiliation 9), Hanne Valgaeren (affiliation 22), Guillaume Bayon-Vicente (affiliation 23), Fabrice Bureau, Claire Gourzonès and Joey Schyns (affiliation 28), Stéphanie Evrard (affiliation 42), Clara Ceyssens (affiliation 58), Jorn Hellemans (affiliation 77), Bram Slechten (affiliation 86) and the entire team of the laboratory of microbiology of UZA (affiliation 89) and of the UZA Federal testing platform COVID-19 (affiliation 85) for their boundless dedication.

Published
2022

42. Multicenter study of the performance of NTM Elite agar for the detection of nontuberculous mycobacteria from patients with cystic fibrosis.

Author

André E, Lorent N, Beuselinck K, Deiwick S, Dupont L, Gafsi J, Laenen L, Raymaekers L, Van Bleyenbergh P, Perry JD, and Kahl BC

Subjects
Humans, Bacteriological Techniques methods, Female, Male, Cystic Fibrosis microbiology, Cystic Fibrosis complications, Nontuberculous Mycobacteria isolation & purification, Nontuberculous Mycobacteria growth & development, Nontuberculous Mycobacteria genetics, Nontuberculous Mycobacteria classification, Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous microbiology, Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous diagnosis, Sputum microbiology, Agar, Culture Media chemistry
Abstract

The performance of a novel selective agar was evaluated against the performance of conventional mycobacterial cultures, i.e., a combination of the mycobacterial growth indicator tube (MGIT) with Löwenstein-Jensen (LJ), for the detection of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in sputum samples from people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). Two hundred eighty-three sputum samples (231 fresh sputum and 52 spiked sputum) from 143 pwCF were collected. They were inoculated without prior decontamination on NTM Elite agar (30°C ± 2°C for 28 days) and inoculated on both MGIT and LJ (35°C-37°C for 6-8 weeks) after N-acetyl-L-cysteine-2% sodium hydroxide decontamination. NTM were identified by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization/Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry and/or PCR, and whole-genome sequencing. A total of 67 NTM were recovered overall by the combination of all culture media. NTM Elite agar allowed the recovery of 65 NTM (97%), compared to 22 for the conventional MGIT and LJ media combination (32.8%), including 22 NTM for MGIT (32.8%) and 3 NTM with the LJ medium (4.5%). For Mycobacterium abscessus complex, the sensitivity of NTM Elite agar was 95% compared with a sensitivity of 30% for the conventional MGIT and LJ media combination. Overall, 17.3% of cultures on NTM Elite agar were contaminated with other micro-organisms vs 46.3% on MGIT and 77% on LJ. This study shows that the novel selective agar (NTM Elite agar) significantly outperforms the conventional MGIT and LJ media combination in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and ease of culture, without the requirement of an L3 laboratory.IMPORTANCENontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are significant pulmonary pathogens in patients with pre-existing structural lung conditions such as cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Mycobacterium avium complex and Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABSC) are the most frequently isolated organisms. Compared to the recommended culture method for NTM, which combines solid and liquid culture media, NTM Elite agar enables a faster/easier diagnosis and speeds up identification and susceptibility testing as the final reading is at 28 days instead of 6-8 weeks for the conventional mycobacterial cultures. In addition, for the NTM Elite agar, no decontamination stage before inoculation is necessary, unlike the conventional mycobacterial cultures. NTM Elite agar is derived from a formulation of medium adapted to rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM). The medium enables the growth of RGM while suppressing other flora. It is supported with published clinical data showing the benefits of this medium., Competing Interests: J.G. is an employee of bioMérieux. The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, UK, represented by John Perry, receive ongoing funding from bioMérieux, France, for the development and evaluation of culture media. UZ Leuven and Munster University Hospital received funding from bioMérieux, France, for the evaluation of NTM culture media.

Published
2024
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