Extraction-free clinical detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus from saline gargle samples using Hamilton STARlet liquid handler.

ABSTRACT: As part of the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical laboratories have been faced with massive increases in testing, resulting in sample collection systems, reagent, and staff shortages. We utilized self-collected saline gargle samples to optimize high throughput SARS-CoV-2 multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing in order to minimize cost and technologist time. This was achieved through elimination of nucleic acid extraction and automation of sample handling on a widely available robotic liquid handler, Hamilton STARlet. A customized barcode scanning script for reading the sample ID by the Hamilton STARlet's software system was developed to allow primary tube sampling. Use of pre-frozen SARS-CoV-2 assay reaction mixtures reduced assay setup time. In both validation and live testing, the as

SUBMITTER: Gadkar VJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10013237 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature