On Jan. 10, the Houston Methodist Clinical Lab began reporting the COVID-19 Omicron Variant Qualitative RT-PCR test. The test code is OMIVP. OMIVP is not orderable and will be performed reflexively on positive NCOVP (COVID-19 qualitative RT-PCR) specimens.
The test is the TaqPathTM COVID-19 Combo assay by ThermoFisher, which tests for 3 SARS-CoV-2 genes, S gene, N gene, and ORF1ab gene. The current, dominate Omicron variant (BA.1) has many mutations in the S gene that result in S gene target failure in this assay.
The test will be reported as:
- Omicron
- Omicron interpretation: The SARS-CoV-2 N gene and ORF1ab gene but not the S gene were detected. This pattern is suggestive of the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant.
- Not Omicron
- Not Omicron interpretation: The SARS-CoV-2 N gene, ORF1ab gene and S gene were detected. This pattern is consistent with a variant other than omicron.
- Indeterminate
- Indeterminate interpretation: Variant analysis cannot be determined.
If you have any questions, please contact Randall J. Olsen, MD, PhD, at 713-441-6802 or David W. Bernard, MD, PhD, at 713-441-2985.