RE: This I am vari interested in3 Mar 2021 14:55
Agree entirely NFR.
They only take a portion (10% ish I believe) of positive samples for genomic sequencing at present.
From an SNPsig handbook:
"Suitable sample material
SNPsig SARS-CoV-2 UK SNP is intended for use as a reflex test only. Thus, a primary
confirmation test for SARS-CoV-2 would be carried out using suitable methodology, and the
extracted RNA from patient samples (or any material suited for PCR amplification) thereafter
applied to this test."
++++
Modifying the Covid-HT assay process to incorporate the processing of 'extracted RNA from patient samples', to identify known sequences, should flag up hot spot post codes for SA, Brazil, UK variants.
Those positive tests that have sequences that are not SA, Brazil or UK, are potentially new variants.
The speed with which confirmation of a known variant, or identification of a new variant, would be greatly increased, and all positive samples would be sequenced.
Something I believe DHSC said they wanted, and a very big improvement on the present situation.