A microchip based realtime RT-PCR test system consisting of a 1-plex disposable microchip for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 has gone through the validation of this detection assay with clinical samples [1]. This microchip consists of 30 microwells, each of which can accommodate a miniature TaqMan chemistry-based reaction of 1.2 μl. The microchip is preloaded with lyophilized US-CDC recommended N1 and N2 primers and probes for detecting the nucleocapsid (N) gene of this virus, along with HsRPP30 (Hs) as a human specimen control involving 1-step qRT-PCR reactions. Recently, we have developed a 2-plex format of the microchip for SARS-CoV-2 detection in which the N1 gene target has been paired with the Hs target in each microwell of the microchip raising the throughput from 7 samples in 1-plex test kit to 27 samples in addition to the controls performing 45 cycles in 32 minutes. Another 2-plex test system with increased throughput of 45 samples in 32 min has higher density of microwells (48-microwell, columns 8 × rows 6). Apart from SARS-CoV-2 detection, the microchip based realtime PCR test systems are involved in detection of other targets including phytopathogens, GMOs, pashmina fibers, meat identifiers, and others as 1-plex or 2-plex test systems [2] [3] [4] [5] [6].

These next generation test systems are technically optimized for imparting sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility, cost-effectiveness, and rapidity in results [2] - [7]. Most of these advantages are attributed to the miniaturized reaction volume, high heat transfer efficiency offered by the metal plate with etched microwells providing high surface area to volume ratio, low reagent consumption, surface dominant properties, and cost-effective product design [7]. The reduced thermal mass of microchips allows for extremely fast temperature ramping requiring PCR protocols established plate-based reactors to be adjusted to the microchips [8] - [16]. Therefore, the attributes of this technology are expected to meet the current requirements and demands of existing detection assays, giving fast results in under 30 minutes [17].

To ease reagent addition to the microcwells and ensuring surface inertness to the PCR process, the passivation of exposed metal surfaces offers hydrophilicity to the microwells that attracts the liquid reagents to the microwells. This feature of the microchip offers user-friendliness in liquid handling and retention of the reagent mix in the microwells. However, the PCR master mixes being colorless are difficult to visualize in the microwells. This challenge gets aggravated when microchips are manufactured to be offered as ready-to-use test systems with PCR reagents lyophilized in the microwells. Additional challenge is posed by further miniaturization and higher density of wells in the 48-microwell format. These features of the microchip test systems demand more attention for careful pipetting into the reagent pellet loaded microwells. However, by including PCR compatible colorant(s) as standalone reagent for adding into the PCR reagent mix for running PCR in empty microchips or including the colorant into lyophilized pellet of the reagents in ready-to-run microchips, can prove highly user-friendly (Figure 1(a)). Therefore, in view of the practical considerations involved in adopting the colorants in this technology for routine laboratory use, and for precision of quality control in the manufacturing process, precision in running assays, and as color-code identifier, the validation task was attempted.

Reagents: The reagents used in these studies were prepared as follows:

1) PCR reagents: The CDC emergency authorization employs 2019-nCoV CDC EUA Kit (Cat # 10006770) that includes primers & probes supplied by Integrated DNA Technology Inc, USA (http://www.idtdna.com). Following the CDC protocol, the primer-probe set to detect N1 region of the N gene of SARS-CoV-2 virus, and the second primer-probe set to detect Hs, a house keeping gene of human subject as a sample control. UltraPlex^TM 1-Step ToughMix^®, a 4X concentrated master mix for 1-step qRT-PCR containing dATP, dCTP, dGTP, dTTP, magnesium, qScript XLT reverse transcriptase, RNase inhibitor protein and AccuStart II hot-start Taq DNA polymerase, catalogue # 95166-01K procured from Quanta Bio, MA, USA (http://www.quantabio.com) was utilized as the TaqMan Taq polymerase enzyme premix for real-time PCR on the microchip. Lyo NZYSupreme One-step RT-qPCR Probe and Lyo NZYSpeedy one-step RT-qPCR Probe master mixes available in lyophilized form were obtained from NZY Tech, Lisboa, Portugal, https://www.nzytech.com.

2) Preparation of viral RNA: As a positive control in all experiments, Armored RNA that includes the viral sequences for the N1 RNA of SARS-CoV-2, 1 × 10¹¹ copies/ml, Cat # 52030, and Hs Armored RNA Cat # 52031, 1 × 10¹¹ copies/mL, used as an alternative template to the human housekeeping gene (Hs) was obtained from Asuragen, Inc., Austin, TX, USA http://www2.asuragen.com/.

3) Preparation of colorants: Individual solution of five different colorants Brilliant Blue FCF (cat # 80717), Sunset Yellow FCF (cat # 68775), Fast Green FCF (cat # 68724), Acid Red 33 (cat # 59573), and Tartrazine (cat # 03322) purchased from Millipore Sigma Aldrich, USA were prepared by dissolving 1 mg of the colorant dry powder in a known quantity of DNAse/RNAse free water to generate an intense tinge of the color. A series of 2-fold dilutions of each colorant solution was prepared to an extent that 1 µl of the last dilution in the series added to 9 µl of water could give visually an end point of the colorant tinge. The colorant preparations were carried in amber color tubes to avoid exposure to direct light. The stock preps of colorants were stored in −20˚C freezer while working solution was stored in a fridge at 4˚C in a black box. A set of serial dilutions of each colorant were tested for the inhibition of the PCR amplification or any other spectral impact on the AriaDNA^TM channels to determine appropriately acceptable dilution. Each experiment was performed with 5 replicates (n = 5). Based on the concentration of the acceptable dilution, a working stock of each colorant solution was prepared for further studies (Table 1).

4) Preparation of disposable pre-filled microchips: Empty microchips with 30 microwells (6 columns × 5 rows) and 48 microwells (8 columns × 6 rows) were manufactured from aluminum sheets, and stainless-steel, respectively by metal stamping technology and coated with surface modifiers [1]. This coating imparts hydrophilicity to the microwells of 1.2 μl capacity and hydrophobicity to the upper surface of the microchips. The empty microchips were then filled with

a 1.2 μl solution of primers and probes of N1, and Hs along with stabilizing agents and the colorant using a OT2 robotic workstation from Opentrons, USA (http://www.opentrons.com) in a predefined layout (Figure 2(a), Figure 2(b)). The relative size of the microchips and the microwells is demonstrated with colorant filled microchip on palm in comparison to 20 μl filled in a PCR tube (Figure 1(b)). The prefilled microchips were then lyophilized by Lumex Instruments, Canada using a SJIA-10N Lyophilizer of Ningbo Shuangjia Instrument Co., Ltd (http://www.shuangjiayiqi.com) and each microchip was individually packaged in a package with desiccant [1].

Microchip-based 1-step RT-PCR: Real-time RT-PCR was performed on the microchip-based PCR analyzer AriaDNA^TM (http://www.lumexinstruments.com) using manufacturer’s software to control the instrument and obtain PCR results [1]. Following the standard procedure, before the addition of the reaction mix in the microchip, 620 μl of silicone oil layer was added for the purpose of overlaying the reaction mix to contain evaporation of the reagents during processing and thermocycling. The mix of sample and master mix was quickly followed by submerged liquid handling under the oil layer. The mix of the sample and master mix for the RT-PCR assays was prepared as UltraPlex^TM 1-Step ToughMix^®: viral RNA: ddH2O in the volumetric ratio of 1:1:2. To prepare Negative Template Control (NTC), viral RNA was replaced with ddH₂O or RNA Storage Solution. To prepare Positive Template Control (PTC), viral RNA was replaced with in vitro transcribed SARS-Cov-2 RNA (1 × 10⁵ copies/ul) mixed with Hs RNA (1 × 10⁵ copies/ul).

For testing the effect of colorants in empty microchips, 1 µl of the colorant was added to 9 µl of the reaction mix [primers, probe(s) and master mix] making a total of 10 µl for distribution as 1.2 μl in the microwells. In the preloaded or ready-to-use microchips containing lyophilized assays in the microchips, 1 µl of the colorant was added to 9 µl of the sample and master mix making a total of 10 µl. Each microchip was loaded with the prepared reaction samples alongside two NTCs and one PTC. Each sample and control was loaded into the microwells containing SARS-CoV-2 targets (N1) and human sample control (Hs) primer-probes with 1.2 μl/microwell. Reactions were carried out on the AriaDNA^TM PCR analyzer as one-step PCR cycling and run as 5 replicates (n = 5), if not stated otherwise.

Slow or fast thermal settings were applied, including a reverse transcription step at 50˚C for 300 s, followed by a denaturing step at 95˚C for 120 s and 45 cycles of 95˚C for 1 s followed by extension and signal recording at 55˚C for 20 s. The Ct values were determined as a second derivative maximum (SDM) once fluorescence passed an auto-set SDM threshold. The SDM serves as an automated alternative but manually tweakable threshold setting and confers flexibility of the software on the instrument. SDM value is reported when an amplitude of the fluorescent signal and an amplitude of its first derivative are both above the pre-set thresholds. Those threshold values can be adjusted within AriaDNA^TM software and were set at 150 and 30 arbitrary units, respectively.

Screening of colorants for PCR compatibility: 1 µl of the test dilution of each colorant was added to 9 µl of master mix for distributing 1.2 µl of this colored mix into wells of the microchip. A comparative control was also performed in the same microchip without the colorant. Each experiment was run with 5 replicates (n = 5):

1) Checking inhibitory effect of colorants on PCR: To determine any dose dependent impact of the colorant on PCR, an experiment was designed to test an intense solution of Brilliant Blue colorant (1 mg/0.3ml) and its last two 2-fold serial dilutions (1 mg/3ml, and 1 mg/6ml) on amplification of N1-FAM and Hs-Cy5 targets. The Ct values and fluorescence intensity (IU) of the PCR were monitored. Similar concentrations (1 mg/0.36ml, 1 mg/3.6ml, 1 mg/7.2ml) of Sunset Yellow were tested.

With the purpose of minimising the dose dependent inhibitory effect of the colorant displayed by the test dilutions of Brilliant Blue and Sunset Yellow, the last three serial dilutions (2-fold) of the remaining colorants (Fast Green, 1 mg/3.33ml 1 mg/6.66ml 1 mg/13.33ml; Acid Red 33, 1 mg/2.5ml 1 mg/5ml 1 mg/10ml, and Tartrazine 1 mg/0.25ml 1 mg/0.5ml 1 mg/1ml) offering visibly apparent color in the PCR reaction were tested. Depending upon the acceptability of the results in comparison to the no colorant control, the least visible concentration or higher concentration of each colorant was selected as working concentration of the colorant leading to the preparation of stock working solutions of the screened colorants (Table 1).

2) Determining background intensity in empty microchips: The background intensity of 1 µl of the working concentration of each colorant in 10 µl of water, in 10 µl of UltraPlex^TM 1-Step ToughMix^®, in10 µl of PCR mix containing UltraPlex^TM 1-Step ToughMix^® and primer probes of N1-FAM and Hs-Cy5 was determined in empty microchips. The standard thermal PCR profile was run for 45 cycles to determine any impact of temperature in comparison to the no-colorant control. The PCR mix contained UltraPlex^TM 1-Step ToughMix^®, and primers and probes of both N1-FAM and Hs-Cy5/Hs-ROX along with N1-RNA and Hs-RNA.

3) Determining spectral interference of colorants in empty microchips: The interference of the working solutions of the test colorants with channel-1 and channel-2 of AriaDNA^TM analyzer was determined by running PCR using 1 µl of the colorant as a sample instead of N1- or Hs-RNA. Similarly, the interference of the colorant with FAM and Cy5 reporter dyes was studied by adding colorant in the presence of N1-RNA determining cross channel interference in the absence of Hs-RNA and vice versa.

4) Determining spectral interference of colorants in lyophilized microchips: The inhibition effect of the colorants was investigated by adding working concentration of the colorant (1 µl in10 µl RT-PCR mix containing UltraPlex^TM 1-Step ToughMix^®) in the 2-plex Microchip RT-PCR Covid-19 Detection kit preloaded with N1-FAM, and Hs-Cy5 reporter dyes. Any change in the Ct (ΔCt) and change in fluorescence intensity (ΔIU) of with/without (w/o) colorants were determined.

5) Comparison of sensitivity and LOD of PCR w/o colorant: Effect of the working concentrations of all the 5 test colorants on sensitivity and limit of detection (LOD) of the RT-PCR was performed using low number of copies (1 copy/µl) of N1-RNA in the presence of higher number of copies of Hs-RNA in comparison to no-colorant control. Comparative Ct values were determined along with fluorescence intensities.

6) Compatibility with master mixes and stability of colorants in lyophilized microchips: The microchips were lyophilized with primers and probes of both N1-FAM and Hs-Cy5 in 2-plex format. In the lyophilized mixture, no colorant control, and working concentration of Fast Green colorant was included in column # 1 - 3, and 4 - 6, respectively.

The stability studies of the lyophilized microchips were carried by storing one set of 13 microchips at each of the storage temperature: −20˚C, 4˚C, 22˚C, and 40˚C over a duration of test schedule. The test schedule was drawn for testing one microchip from each of the storage temperature on 0-day, 7^th-day, followed by every 21 day till the 13^th microchip was tested. Following the test schedule, the RT-PCR was performed with the lyophilized microchips thus prepared using PCR mix prepared with UltraPlex^TM 1-Step ToughMix^® in column # 1 and 4, the Lyo NZYSupreme One-step RT-qPCR Probe Master Mix in column # 2 and 5, and Lyo NZYSpeedy one-step RT-qPCR Probe Master Mix in column # 3 and 6 along with 125 copies the N1-RNA and 1250 copies/µl of Hs-RNA. The Ct values and fluorescence intensity were monitored to determine deviation in comparison to no-colorant control.

7) Test of colorant loaded Microchip with clinical samples of Covid-19: One lot of microchips was prepared and lyophilized with primers and probes of N1-FAM and Hs-Cy5 in which columns 1 - 2 did not include any colorant, while column 3 - 4 and column 5 - 6 included working concentration of Tartrazine and Fast Green colorants. Another lot of microchips were similarly prepared and lyophilized replacing Hs-Cy5 with Hs-ROX reporter dye. Positive extraction control (PEC) and negative extraction control (NEC), and some patient samples were testes in these microchips to determine the comparative effect of these colorants with no-colorant control. The PEC and NEC were tested as duplicates to determine intra-microchip and inter-microchip comparison. The PEC and NEC samples were tested in two replicates (n = 2) while other samples were run as single replicate (n = 1).

Screening of colorants for PCR compatibility and inertness: To determine dose dependent impact of the colorant on PCR, an intense solution of Brilliant Blue colorant and its two last serial dilutions was tested by adding 1 µl from each of these test 3 dilutions to PCR reaction with N1-FAM and Hs-Cy5 targets. The intense dose of the colorant completely inhibited the PCR while the last two dilutions had insignificant dose-dependent effect on the amplification intensity (IU) in comparison to no-colorant control. However, the Ct values of the N1-FAM target by the intense dose were delayed to Ct 32.1 while both the mild dilutions of the colorant did not impact the Ct relative to no-colorant control. The amplification of Hs-Cy5 target was completely inhibited by the intense dose while both the mild dilutions did not affect both the Ct and IU (Table 2, Figure 3(a), Figure 3(b)).

A similar behaviour of the intense and mild doses of the Sunset Yellow colorant was displayed by the amplification Ct value of Hs-Cy5 target by completely inhibiting the amplification by the intense dose and no impact by the mild doses on Ct values and amplification intensity. However, the intense dose of the colorant displayed complete inhibition of amplification of the N1-FAM target while

a dose-dependent reduction of intensity in comparison to no-colorant control but without affecting Ct values was observed. The Hs-Cy5, however, had consistent Ct values among the tested concentrations with insignificant reduction of amplification intensities even by the intense colorant (Table 2, Figure 3(c), Figure 3(d)).

With the purpose of minimising the inhibitory effect of the colorant, the last three 2-fold serial dilutions of the remaining colorants offering visible tinge of the colorant (1 µl in 10 µl of PCR reaction) were tested. All the three tested concentrations displayed consistent Ct values and amplification intensities comparable to no-colorant control. Additional colorant shades were also derived by mixing the working concentrations of the test colorants in specific ratios (volume: volume, Table 3). The results indicated the impact of the derived colorant shade was an average of the impact of the mixing colorants (Table 2, Figures 3(m)-(p) The insignificant ΔCt and ΔIU of w/o colorant supported further studies on the use of these colorants in the microchip (Table 2, Figures 3(e)-(p), Figure 4(a), Figure 4(b)).

This data is supported by the commercially available VisiBlue^TM, and the Precision Blue colorant solutions of undisclosed chemical name(s), considered inert reagent colorants for realtime PCR applications where the end amplification intensity level is slightly reduced by these colorants comparative to no-colorant control when added to a PCR reaction mix. This reduction, however, is reported to vary with the master mix used in the reaction (https://www.tataa.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/TATAA-Manual_VisiBlue-1.3.pdf, https://www.bio-rad.com/webroot/web/pdf/lsr/literature/Bulletin_6090.pdf).

Determining background intensity of colorants: The background intensity of the working concentrations of the test colorants in water, and in UltraPlex^TM 1-Step ToughMix^® were observed close to that of the no-colorant control on both the channels of AriaDNA^TM analyzer except Acid Red 33 colorant. The latter had about 2-fold higher background intensity than that of the no-colorant control. However, in the presence of primer and probes of N1-FAM, Fast Green, Brilliant Blue, Tartrazine and Acid Red 33 colorant had background intensity about 0.9 to 1.2-fold that of the no-colorant control (Figure 5(a)). In the case of

Hs-Cy5, the background intensity of Tartrazine, and Sunset Yellow colorants in water, in UltraPlex^TM 1-Step ToughMix^®, in the PCR mix containing UltraPlex^TM

1-Step ToughMix^®, primers and probe, the background intensity ranged from 1.6 to 1.8, 1.6, and 1.3-fold of the no-colorant control. However, Fast Green, Brilliant Blue, and Acid Red 33 colorant ranged from 4.5 to 6.7, 4.3 to 8.5, and 2.4 to 2.9-fold of the no-colorant control in water, in UltraPlex^TM 1-Step ToughMix^®, and in the PCR mix containing UltraPlex^TM 1-Step ToughMix^®, primers and probe, respectively (Figure 5(b)).

A comparison of the background intensities of two reporter dyes Hs-Cy5 and Hs-ROX on channel-2 of AriaDNA^TM analyzer, were also compared for Tartrazine, Fast Green colorants, and no-colorant control. The fold difference of 3.9, 3.1 and 2.4 between Hs-Cy5 and Hs-ROX for Tartrazine, Fast Green and no-colorant control indicated that ROX has appreciably lower background than Cy5 (Figure 5(c), Figure 5(d)). The addition of 1 µl of each test colorant in 10 µl of water or UltraPlex^TM 1-Step ToughMix^® or PCR mix containing UltraPlex^TM 1-Step ToughMix^® and primer probes of N1-FAM and Hs-Cy5 resulted in intensity units of −17 to +14, −60 to +90, and −70 to +20, respectively as the final background in the PCR assay (Figure 6(a), Figure 6(c)). This data indicates

the negligible contribution of the colorants in comparison to that of the PCR reaction mix. In realtime PCR analysis, the background intensities of the PCR mixes are subtracted by the software during analysis. Similarly, AriaDNA^TM analyzer software also applies optional exponential background subtraction during analysis. Therefore, these background intensities do not interfere in the analysis.

Determining non-interference of colorants during PCR thermocycling: The PCR reporter dyes, and the colorants are known to have their specific absorbance and emission spectra that may interfere during the PCR run [18] [19]. Moreover, the data from screening food colorant formulations on compatibility with realtime PCR, and from the comparison of the intensity of the blank colorants, some food colorants formulations for food applications were not found to be compatible due to high optical absorbance [20]. Therefore, interference of the working solutions of these test colorants with channel-1 and channel-2 of AriaDNA^TM analyzer was studied by running PCR with primer and probes of FAM, and Cy5 reporter dyes.

The absence of any signal from all the test colorants added as sample (1 µl in10 µl RT-PCR mix) in the 2-plex Microchip RT-PCR Covid-19 Detection kit preloaded with lyophilized FAM, and Cy5 reporter dyes, did not generate any signal indicating their inertness to the detection channels of the AriaDNA^TM analyzer (Figure 6(c)). This data also suggested the compatibility of these colorants in the microchip. Thus, these colorants can be used either for coloring of master mix for precision liquid handling in microchips or to color-coding of lyophilized kits in the microchip.

Comparison of sensitivity and LOD of PCR w/o colorant: Effect of the working concentrations of all the 5 test colorants on sensitivity of the PCR at near technical LOD of the assay with spiked 1 copy/µl of N1-RNA and 1 × 10⁴ copies/µl of Hs-RNA was investigated in comparison to no-colorant in the assay at fast thermocycling. Comparable Ct values of N1-RNA at 1 copy/µl in the presence of 1 × 10⁴ copies/µl of Hs-RNA indicated that the sensitivity of the PCR assay does not get compromised at fast settings of thermocycling completing 45 PCR cycles in 32 min (Figures 7(a)-(d)).

Additionally, the comparison of standard curves run with the standards ranging from 1 copy/µl to 1 × 10⁴ copies/µl w/o the presence of Fast Green colorant displayed no influence of the colorant on qPCR performance (Figure 9(c)). This data is supported by the VisiBlue^TM colorant where the sensitivity of the PCR assay is not affected with presence of the VisiBlue^TM colorant. The direct addition of VisiBlue^TM to the Finnzymes DyNAmo qPCR mastermix for the amplification of 18S rRNA is reported as having no significant difference in end fluorescence compared w/o the colorant.

Besides 30-microwell aluminum format, compatibility of Tartrazine, Acid Red 33, and Fast Green colorants lyophilized with primers and probes of the N1-FAM and Hs-ROX of SARS-CoV-2 in 48-microwell stainless-steel microchip was also investigated. Inertness of the colorants was displayed by amplification of both N1-RNA at low (100 copies/µl) and high number of copies (1000 copies/µl) completing 45 cycles of PCR in 32 min comparable with no colorant control (Figures 8(a)-(f)). This data indicates equaling 30-microwell format, the higher density format of 48-microwell also did not affect the technical LOD of the spiked N1-RNA (Figure 9(a), Figure 9(b)).

Compatibility with different master mixes and stability of colorants: Compatibility of the presence of Fast Green colorant with 3 master mixes was reflected from the comparable Ct values and fluorescence intensity over 70-day duration on RT-PCR in 2-plex Microchip RT Covid-19 Detection Kit. No significant difference was observed in the performance of PCR in comparison to no-colorant control (Figure 10(a), Figure 10(b)). Additionally, the lyophilized form of the Lyo NZYSupreme One-step RT-qPCR Probe and Lyo NZYSpeedy one-step RT-qPCR Probe master mix offers an edge over the liquid form QuantaBio’s UltraPlex^TM 1-Step ToughMix^® for the ease of the cold-chain free shipment.

During these stability studies, the Ct values and fluorescence intensity did not significantly differ in comparison of w/o colorant (Figure 10(c), Figure 10(d)). The storage at low and high temperatures over 70 days also did not affect the visibility of the colorant in the microchip upon reconstitution of the lyophilized reagent pellet in the microchip during RT-PCR set up. Similarly, in the previously conducted studies, the presence or absence of food colorant formulation of blue, green, red, yellow, and violet colorants for both PoAc-FAM (channel-1) and IC-ROX (channel-2) of AriaDNA^TM in the lyophilized microchip did not indicate any significant impact on activity of the PCR reagents [20]. These observations suggest that the tested colorants can be successfully used to add user-friendliness of the ready-to-use lyophilized microchips.

Test of colorant-loaded microchips with clinical samples: The PEC clinical sample were tested for both intra-and inter-microchip comparison where microchip 1 contained 2-plex formats of N1-FAM/Hs-Cy5 primer-probes, and microchip 2 with N1-FAM/Hs-ROX primer-probes. Tartrazine colorant with 0.4 Ct lower and Fast Green with no difference of Ct than the no-colorant control indicated insignificant impact on Ct values of N1-FAM in both intra- and inter microchips.

Similarly, the intensity of N1-FAM target was also insignificantly affected by the Tartrazine colorant displaying 6% and Fast Green colorant 8% lower intensity than no-colorant control (Figure 11(a), Figure 11(b). Four certified negative samples tested in N1-FAM/Hs-Cy5 lyophilized microchips emerged negative displaying no impact of colorant on their detection for N1-FAM target while Hs-Cy5 reported positive from human DNA present in all the positive and negative samples (Figure 11(a), Figure 11(b)). The four positive samples run in N1-FAM/HS-ROX lyophilized microchip displayed −0.4 to +0.3 Ct difference

for Tartrazine and Fast Green colorants from that of no-colorant control (Figure 11(d)). Similarly, the Hs-ROX target reported from the human genome in saliva of all the patient samples, the Ct values of each sample did not significantly differ among the microwells containing lyophilized reagents where both Tartrazine and Fast Green colorants had <0.3 Ct difference from that of the no-colorant control (Figure 11(c), Figure 11(d)).

Acceptable rank order of colorants: Applying acceptability criteria on these colorants, a rank order of the colorants is presented in Table 4 that suggests the applicability of these colorants with insignificant compromise on confidence of the PCR detection of SARS-CoV-2. The colorants or the derivative colorants created from mixing different colorants can generate other color shades for expanding multi color-coding of the kits.

ND = Not determined, R = Reference.

The results obtained in the present studies suggest that the tested colorants can be successfully used to add user-friendliness of the ready-to-use lyophilized microchips to improve liquid handling. The storage at low and high temperatures confirmed that visibility of the colorant in the microchip is not affected for at least 70 days.

The support extended by Dr. Natallia Varankovich, and Er. Steven Hao in manufacturing of microchips is acknowledged.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Gill, R.K., Gill, S.S., Gelimson, I., Slyadnev, M., Martinez, G., Gaines, M., Nunley, R. and Majoros, T. (2021) Color-Coding of Microchip RT-PCR Test System for SARS-CoV-2 Detection. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 9, 94-119. https://doi.org/10.4236/jbm.2021.95010