S gene drop-out predicts super spreader H69del/V70del mutated SARS-CoV-2 virus

Emergence of newer SARS-CoV-2 variants,especially strain B.1.1.7/SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01,discovered in the United Kingdom with H69del/V70del mutation in spike S gene was reported with higher transmissibility of up to 70%[1].Identification of this variant was sparsely done in India because performing routine diagnosis as well as genomic surveillance using a single kit is the hour of need.To our knowledge,two publications identified the aforesaid mutation by phenomena called S gene drop-out using Applied Biosystems TaqPath COVID-19 Combo kit(Thermo Fisher Scientific,Waltham,USA)[2-4].