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
Handheld Blood Glucose Analyzer
STAT-Site
Gold Member
Neonatal Heel Incision Device
Tenderfoot
New
Tourniquet System
heidi– mein Tourniquet
New
Radiofrequency Generator
GX1
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
FDA-Cleared AI System Detects Sepsis Earlier and Reduces Mortality
Sepsis remains one of the deadliest complications for hospitalized patients, in part because its early signs overlap with other conditions. Each hour of delayed recognition measurably decreases survival,... Read more
Facial Image Analysis Tracks Biological Aging, Predicts Cancer Outcomes
Biological aging is the progressive loss of physiological function that may diverge from chronological age. In cancer care, clinicians need simple tools that reflect dynamic changes in patient resilience... Read more
Critical Care
view channel
Smart Wristband Technology Detects Cardiac Arrest and Alerts Responders
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a sudden loss of heart function that often occurs without witnesses and demands immediate response. Delayed recognition and activation of emergency services reduce survival... Read more
Portable Ultrasound Tool Quantifies Liver Fat with MRI-Like Accuracy
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasingly prevalent and often under-monitored because quantitative liver fat assessment is not routinely available at the bedside.... Read more
AI Method Turns Toe Scan into Rapid PAD Screening Tool
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is caused by plaque buildup that restricts blood flow to the legs and can lead to limb loss. Many cases go undetected because diagnosis often requires a specialized visit... Read more
Integrated AI Pulmonary Workflow System Streamlines Detection and Follow-Up
Pulmonary conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung nodules, and pulmonary embolism require rapid identification and coordinated follow-up across emergency, inpatient, and ambulatory settings.... Read moreSurgical Techniques
view channel
Stretchable Bioelectronic Implant Lowers Blood Pressure in Preclinical Study
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, drives major cardiovascular morbidity and affects nearly half of adults in the United States. About one in ten patients develop drug‑resistant hypertension that persists... Read more
FDA-Cleared Nerve Stimulator Advances Intraoperative Peripheral Nerve Assessment
The Evala Nerve Stimulator from Epineuron (Mississauga, ON, Canada) is a handheld, intraoperative electrical stimulation system designed to provide surgeons with a rapid and accurate method for nerve identification... 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
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
AI System Detects and Quantifies Chronic Subdural Hematoma
Viz.ai (San Francisco, CA, USA) announced a strategic commercialization collaboration with Johnson & Johnson (New Brunswick, NJ, USA) to expand access in the United States to the Viz Subdural solution... Read more
Continuous Monitoring Platform Detects Infection Risk Across Care Transitions
Patients leaving skilled nursing facilities often lose continuous physiologic monitoring, increasing the risk of undetected infection and delayed intervention. Nursing home residents are seven times more... Read more
Automated System Classifies and Tracks Cardiogenic Shock Across Hospital Settings
Cardiogenic shock remains a difficult, time-sensitive emergency, with delayed identification driving poor outcomes and persistently high mortality. Many cases go undocumented even at advanced stages, hindering... Read morePoint of Care
view channel
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
Olympus Partnership Aims to Expand Access to Robot-Assisted Endoscopic Therapy
Olympus has signed an exclusive global distribution agreement with EndoRobotics Co., Ltd., under which robot-assisted technologies developed by EndoRobotics will be distributed worldwide as part of the... Read more
