A Comparison of Two Methods for Detection of Norovirus RNA in Environmental Swab Samples
, David J. Allen 2,3,4, Joyce O. Akello 3, Sarah Hau 1, Miren Iturriza-Gómara 1,4 and on Behalf of the NoVAS Study Consortium †
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The study compares two methods and two standards for detecting and measuring norovirus in faecal material and from swabs. and shows the two methods have similar sensitivity for detection of norovirus in faeces and swabs, highlights differences between the standards in comparing the sensitivity of detection methods and the use to estimate the amount of norovirus in samples.
Over all, the study is well organized and the presentation is good. However, there are some issues to be improved:
1. For total nucleic acids obtained by extraction method A and method B, it is recommended to show the comparison results of their concentration, purity, and electrophoretic integrity in the results section.
2. It may be better for Table 1 to present the results of statistical analysis of data obtained from repeated experiments.
Author Response
Please see attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The manuscript ID: applmicrobiol-1787502, entitled “A comparison of two methods for detection of norovirus RNA in environmental swab samples” compares two nucleic acid extraction and two detection methods for norovirus. The study has been well performed and is interesting. There are some comments that may improve the understanding of the manuscript, detailed below:
- The elution volume of the extraction methods is different (50uL and 100uL). May this have affected the results obtained?
- 3.1. Comparison of methods: I am not sure if this subsection is a result of this study. It is interesting the comparison, but I think that is more appropriate to move it to discussion.
- The statistical analyses were not mentioned in Methods. This is important to evaluate if the differences (or not) are statistically significant.
- It is not mentioned the unit used in the quantifications. Genome copies per what?
- Discussion and Conclusion sections are almost the same length, so probably or the discussion is scarce or the conclusion is too long.
- Are the linear regression equations correct?
Author Response
Please see attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
