Saliva Antigen Test17 Feb 2021 11:37
Collaboration to automate COVID-19 PCR testing
Tue, 4th Aug 2020 07:00
RNS Number : 9991U
Genedrive PLC
Beckman Coulter collaboration to automate high throughput SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing
genedrive plc (LSE: GDR), the near patient molecular diagnostics company, announces that it has entered into a collaboration with Beckman Coulter Life Sciences ("Beckman Coulter") to fully automate the entire laboratory PCR testing process for COVID-19. The two companies are working to combine and validate the Genedrive® 96 SARS-CoV-2 Kit on the Biomek i7 automated workstation with saliva samples extracted using Beckman Coulter's RNAdvance viral extraction chemistry.
The freeze dried bead chemistry of the Genedrive® 96 SARS-CoV-2 test is ideally suited for use on high throughput robotic platforms like the Biomek i7. Stable at room temperature for 4 hours after unsealing, many Genedrive® 96 SARS-CoV-2 Kit 96-well plates can be left arrayed and open in the laboratory environment during the set-up process. The ready-to-go nature of the test bead also removes the fluid dispensing steps required in other assays, increasing the overall throughput of the Biomex i7 compared to using a liquid based test set-up. Accordingly, once validated, Beckman Coulter estimates that this new turnkey solution could process circa 1,000 PCR samples per Biomek installed during a standard 8-hour working day, using just a 0.5 full-time-equivalent in technician time for processing. Genedrive has already completed initial evaluation of Beckman Coulter's RNA extraction chemistry to confirm compatibility with the Genedrive 96 SARS-CoV-2 test. Further work is ongoing to validate clinical saliva samples which are a very relevant sample type for applications such as high volume occupational screening. Beckman's RNAdvance Viral XP has already been listed as an extraction method for swab samples for use with the Centers for Disease Control's EUA-authorized COVID-19 test in FDA's FAQ on testing for SARS-CoV-2.
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