Genomic Variant Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Positive Specimens Using a Direct PCR Product Sequencing Surveillance (DPPSS) Method

Among the five VOCs, Omicron is the most prevalent and dominant variant. The in-house direct PCR product sequencing surveillance (DPPSS) method provided an alternative platform for SAR-CoV-2 variant analysis which is accessible and affordable than the conventional diagnostic surveillance methods and the whole genome sequencing. Further evaluation and improvements on the oligonucleotide primers may offer significant contri-bution to the development of a specific and direct PCR-based detection of new emerging COVID-19 variants.