Evaluation of Bosphore SARS-CoV-2/Flu/RSV Panel RT-PCR kit for Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses in the Post-pandemic Era

Introduction: The widespread transmission of respiratory viruses has imposed a significant global health burden. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become essential to detect and differentiate co-infections caused by SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Advances in diagnostics now enable multiplex detection of these pathogens in a single test. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the Bosphore SARS-CoV- 2/Flu/RSV multiplex RT-PCR kit for identifying respiratory viruses and to compare its results with those of other commercially available assays in northern UAE. Methods: A total of 146 respiratory specimens were collected and tested between January and July 2023 at Pure Lab, Al Qassimi Hospital, Sharjah, UAE. The study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the Bosphore SARS-CoV-2/Flu A/B/RSV multiplex RT-PCR assay in comparison with four other commercially available RT-PCR kits for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A/B, and RSV. These kits included the Labsystems Diagnostics COVID-19 Real-Time Multiplex Kit, DiaPlexQ Flu A/B & SARS-CoV-2 Detection Kit, Sacace ARVI Screen Real-TM assay, and the Bosphore Influenza A-B Detection Kit. Results and Discussion: In the post-pandemic setting, the Bosphore multiplex assay demonstrated strong performance compared with the Labsystems COVID-19 RT-PCR kit, with both assays achieving 100% positive and negative percent agreement (PPA/NPA). Cycle threshold (Ct) values from positive specimens showed a high degree of correlation between the two methods. Similarly, comparison with the DiaPlexQ Flu A/B & SARS-CoV-2 Detection Kit revealed complete concordance, with 100% PPA and NPA for the detection of influenza A, influenza B, and SARS-CoV-2. For RSV, the Bosphore assay also showed perfect agreement with the Sacace ARVI Screen Real-TM assay, achieving 100% PPA and NPA. Across all assay comparisons, Cohen’s kappa values confirmed perfect inter-assay agreement. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the Bosphore multiplex RT-PCR assay delivers diagnostic performance comparable to that of established single-plex assays for detecting SARS-CoV-2, influenza A/B, and RSV. These findings indicate that the multiplex assay is a reliable and efficient diagnostic tool during periods of concurrent circulation of these respiratory viruses. The study underscores its crucial role in supporting accurate diagnosis and effective management of respiratory illnesses.