RT-qPCR is used world-wide to test and trace the spread of SARS-CoV-2. “Extraction-less” or “direct” RT-PCR is an open-access qualitative method for SARS-CoV-2 detection from nasopharyngeal (NP) samples with the potential to generate actionable data more quickly, at a lower cost, and with fewer experimental resources than full RT-qPCR. This study provides novel evidence in an international, inter-laboratory ring trial about the practical utility and performance of the direct RT-PCR method with participation by ten laboratories currently experiencing many of the testing limitations. The direct method should be considered as a viable, fit-for-purpose resource to address the growing need for population monitoring during a challenging vaccination roll out and amidst the emergence of increasingly transmissible strains of SARS-CoV-2. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Mills, M., E. Bruce, M. Huang, J. Crothers, O. Hyrien, C.A.L. Oura, L. Blake, A. Brown Jordan, S. Hester, L. Wehmas, B. Mari, P. Barby, C. Lacoux, J. Fassy, P. Vial, C. Vial, J.R.W. Martinez, O.O. Oladipo, B. Inuwa, I. Shittu, C.A. Meseko, R. Chammas, C.F. Santos, T.J. Dionísio, T.F. Garbieri, V.A. Parisi, M.C. Mendes-Correa, A.V. dePaula, C.M. Romano, L.G.B. Góes, P. Minoprio, A.C. Campos, M.P. Cunha, A.P.P. Vilela, T. Nyirenda, R.S. Mkakosya, A.S. Muula, R.E. Dumm, R.M. Harris, C. Mitchell, S. Pettit, J. Botten, and K.R. Jerome. An international, interlaboratory ring trial confirms the feasibility of an extraction-less “direct” RT-qPCR method for reliable detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in clinical samples.. PLOS ONE. Public Library of Science, San Francisco, CA, USA, 17(1): e0261853, (2022).