Strategies for Increasing the Throughput of Genetic Screening: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic within a University Community
Fernanda Miguel, A. Raquel Baleizão, A. Gabriela Gomes, Helena Caria, Fátima N. Serralha, Marta C. Justino
TL;DR
During the pandemic, a university lab improved genetic screening efficiency using sample pooling and multiplex protocols, boosting testing capacity while maintaining accuracy.
Contribution
The development of in-house multiplex protocols and sample-pooling strategies to increase testing throughput during a public health crisis.
Findings
Sample pooling validated through RT-qPCR proved effective for increasing testing efficiency without compromising accuracy.
In-house multiplex protocols reduced operational time and reagent use while maintaining sensitivity comparable to standard methods.
The strategies developed offer a scalable solution for future pandemic scenarios.
Abstract
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Polytechnic University of Setúbal (IPS) used its expertise in molecular genetics to establish a COVID-19 laboratory, addressing the demand for community-wide testing. Following standard protocols, the IPS COVID Lab received national accreditation in October 2020 and was registered in February 2021. With the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants and safety concerns for students and staff, the lab was further challenged to develop rapid and sensitive diagnostic technologies. Methodologies such as sample-pooling extraction and multiplex protocols were developed to enhance testing efficiency without compromising accuracy. Through Real-Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis, the effectiveness of sample pooling was validated, proving to be a clear success in COVID-19 screening. Regarding multiplex analysis, the IPS COVID Lab…
Genes, proteins, chemicals, diseases, species, mutations and cell lines named across the full text — each resolved to its canonical identifier and authoritative record.
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Taxonomy
TopicsSARS-CoV-2 detection and testing · Biosensors and Analytical Detection · SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research