Monitoring and assessment of SARS-CoV-2 evolution

Materials and methods. The analysis was conducted in the period 2020–2021 using information databases and research resources: Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Scirus, Springer, Medline, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science. Our own examination included a total of 80 nasopharyngeal swabs (at least two specimens in each case) collected from ARVI symptomatic or suspected COVID-19 patients, who were treated at the MNE KRC “Regional Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital” from June to October 2021 and tested positive on SARS-CoV-2. The first study was performed in the inter-peak period, and the second one – on the rise of the disease. A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used for primary identification with the diagnostic kit “Biocore® SARS-CoV-2” (LLC “Biocor Technology Ltd.”, Ukraine) in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Multiplex analysis SNPsig® VariPLEXTM Covid-19 (PrimerdesignTM Ltd., UK) was used in the first cross-sectional study for secondary identification.