Visual Detection of Norovirus Genogroup II by Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification with Hydroxynaphthol Blue Dye

A simple, rapid, specific, and sensitive colorimetric reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay with hydroxynaphthol blue dye (HNB) was established, targeting RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and capsid protein gene for the detection of the dominant norovirus genogroup in China—NoV GII. The assay was carried out at 65 °C for 60 min with no cross-reactivity with other common gastroenteritis viruses. The sensitivity of this assay was 103 copies per reaction which is equivalent to the conventional RT-PCR test. The clinical test showed 94.83 % coincidence rate for NoV genogroup II detection compared with the results, confirmed by the Department of Viral Diarrhea of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention via conventional RT-PCR. The HNB dye-based RT-LAMP could be a novel rapid screening method for prevalent norovirus genogroup II in China, especially in those resource-limited hospitals and rural local clinics.