Compositions, kits and methods for detection of viral sequences

A method for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in a biological sample, comprising:

• (a) providing a reaction mixture that includes
• at least a portion of the biological sample,
• a first set of primers for amplifying a target region within the N gene,
• a second set of primers for amplifying a target region within the S gene, and
• a third set of primers for amplifying a target region within the Orf1ab gene;
• (b) subjecting the reaction mixture to amplification conditions, thereby forming one or more amplification products;
• and
• (c) detecting at least one of the amplification products.

A method for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in a biological sample, comprising:

• (a) providing a reaction mixture containing that includes
• at least a portion of the biological sample,
• a first set of primers for amplifying a first SARS-CoV-2 target region,
• a second set of primers for amplifying a second SARS-CoV-2 target region, and
• a third set of primers for amplifying a third SARS-CoV-2 target region;
• (b) subjecting the reaction mixture to amplification conditions, thereby forming one or more amplification products;
• and
• (c) detecting at least one of the amplification products,
• wherein the first, second, and third set of primers are specific to SARS-CoV-2 and do not cause amplification of non-SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus strains.