Robotic Next Generation Sequencing Platform Accurately Screens Thousands of COVID-19 Samples at Once
|
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 04 Mar 2021 |
|
Image: Jeff Wrana, left, is seen in this undated file photo at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute in Toronto, Canada (Photo courtesy of Sinai Health)
A robotics platform to screen thousands of COVID-19 samples at once has the potential to revolutionize how labs track the spread of viruses and other pathogens, according to new findings.
The study by researchers from the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute (LTRI) at Sinai Health (Toronto, ON, Canada) found that their next-generation, ultra-high-throughput sequencing platform, called C19-SPAR-Se, has a sensitivity rate greater than 95% in positive cases during peak onset. The platform is also cost-effective. The study notes it only costs about USD 8 per test when running thousands of samples at once, as the cost per sample decreases due to economies of scale.
"Identifying positive samples quickly and accurately is critical in beating this pandemic," said Dr. Jeff Wrana, senior investigator at the LTRI and professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto. "With new and potentially dangerous variants now circulating, this is a platform that is scalable, automated and capable of analyzing thousands of COVID-19 patient samples in a single instrument run."
Related Links:
Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute
The study by researchers from the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute (LTRI) at Sinai Health (Toronto, ON, Canada) found that their next-generation, ultra-high-throughput sequencing platform, called C19-SPAR-Se, has a sensitivity rate greater than 95% in positive cases during peak onset. The platform is also cost-effective. The study notes it only costs about USD 8 per test when running thousands of samples at once, as the cost per sample decreases due to economies of scale.
"Identifying positive samples quickly and accurately is critical in beating this pandemic," said Dr. Jeff Wrana, senior investigator at the LTRI and professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto. "With new and potentially dangerous variants now circulating, this is a platform that is scalable, automated and capable of analyzing thousands of COVID-19 patient samples in a single instrument run."
Related Links:
Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute
Gold Member
Neonatal Heel Incision Device
Tenderfoot
Gold Member
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Sample-To-Answer Test
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Cartridge (CE-IVD)
X-Ray Generator
Advantage Plus Generators
Tourniquet System
heidi– mein Tourniquet
Latest COVID-19 News
- Low-Cost System Detects SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Hospital Air Using High-Tech Bubbles
- World's First Inhalable COVID-19 Vaccine Approved in China
- COVID-19 Vaccine Patch Fights SARS-CoV-2 Variants Better than Needles
- Blood Viscosity Testing Can Predict Risk of Death in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
- ‘Covid Computer’ Uses AI to Detect COVID-19 from Chest CT Scans
- MRI Lung-Imaging Technique Shows Cause of Long-COVID Symptoms
- Chest CT Scans of COVID-19 Patients Could Help Distinguish Between SARS-CoV-2 Variants
- Specialized MRI Detects Lung Abnormalities in Non-Hospitalized Long COVID Patients
- AI Algorithm Identifies Hospitalized Patients at Highest Risk of Dying From COVID-19
- Sweat Sensor Detects Key Biomarkers That Provide Early Warning of COVID-19 and Flu
- Study Assesses Impact of COVID-19 on Ventilation/Perfusion Scintigraphy
- CT Imaging Study Finds Vaccination Reduces Risk of COVID-19 Associated Pulmonary Embolism
- Third Day in Hospital a ‘Tipping Point’ in Severity of COVID-19 Pneumonia
- Longer Interval Between COVID-19 Vaccines Generates Up to Nine Times as Many Antibodies
- AI Model for Monitoring COVID-19 Predicts Mortality Within First 30 Days of Admission
- AI Predicts COVID Prognosis at Near-Expert Level Based Off CT Scans
Channels
Artificial Intelligence
view channel
AI Platform Supports Noninvasive Remote Hemodynamic Monitoring in Heart Failure
Heart failure remains a leading cause of hospitalization in adults over 65, affecting more than 6.7 million people in the U.S. Clinicians often lose visibility into hemodynamic deterioration once patients... Read more
AI Tool Predicts Unplanned Care and Symptom Burden in Cancer Survivors
Unplanned emergency visits and hospitalizations remain common in cancer survivorship, when routine clinical contact often tapers while new symptoms emerge. These events reflect unmet needs and disrupt... Read more
Critical Care
view channel
Cuffless Wearable Enables Continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring for Hypertension Care
Hypertension, or chronically elevated blood pressure, drives major risks for heart attack and stroke yet is typically assessed with intermittent cuff readings. These snapshots miss rapid physiologic changes... Read more
AI ECG Tool Detects Cardiac Amyloidosis for Early Screening
Cardiac amyloidosis is a serious, often fatal cause of heart failure that remains widely underdiagnosed, with many patients identified only after permanent myocardial damage. Studies estimate that roughly... Read more
Surgical Techniques
view channel
Small Cryoprobe Outperforms Forceps in Lung Biopsy Trial
Accurate diagnosis of pulmonary nodules, post-transplant allograft dysfunction, and diffuse parenchymal lung disease depends on high-quality tissue obtained during bronchoscopy. Conventional forceps biopsy... Read more
Natural Bypass Score May Guide Care in Chronic Coronary Blockages
Chronic total occlusion, a complete coronary artery blockage present for months, poses difficult treatment decisions in coronary artery disease. Opening these arteries is technically demanding and carries... Read more
Patient Care
view channel
AI Avatar Doctor Improves Patient Understanding Before Radiotherapy
Radiation oncology consultations require patients to grasp complex concepts quickly, yet anxiety and information overload often undermine understanding and informed consent. Poor comprehension can also... Read more
Wearable Sleep Data Predict Adherence to Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term lung disorder that makes breathing difficult and often disturbs sleep, reducing energy for daily activities. Limited engagement in pulmonary... Read more
Health IT
view channel
AI-Native EHR Achieves EU Medical Device Certification
InterSystems (Boston, MA, USA) announced that its IntelliCare electronic health record (EHR) solutions have been certified as Class IIa medical devices under the European Union Medical Device Regulation... Read more
EHR-Integrated Screening Workflow Detects Cognitive Impairment at Admission
Cognitive impairment involves difficulties with thinking, learning, memory, and decision-making, and is more common in older adults. In U.S. hospitals, more than 40% of admitted older adults have dementia,... Read more
Point of Care
view channel
Portable MRI System Accelerates Emergency Brain Imaging and Triage
Emergency departments frequently face delays accessing conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for patients with suspected neurological emergencies. Such waits can slow triage, prolong boarding,... Read more
Point-of-Care Viscoelastic Testing System Supports Obstetric Bleeding Management
HemoSonics (Durham, NC, USA) announced on May 5, 2026 that the company's Quantra Hemostasis System for Obstetric Procedures won Silver in the 2026 Edison Awards in the Women’s Health and Reproductive Innovations... Read more
Business
view channel
Endologix Adds FDA-Cleared Peripheral Thrombectomy System
Endologix (Santa Rosa, CA, USA) has acquired the Pounce Thrombectomy System from Surmodics, with the transaction closing on May 18, 2026. The FDA-cleared system is indicated for the non-surgical removal... Read more
