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| <div class="nonumtoc">__TOC__</div>
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| ==3. Adding COVID-19 and other virus testing to your laboratory==
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| ===3.1 Prepping based on methodology===
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| In the previous chapter, the most common testing methodologies for [[COVID-19]] and other [[Coronavirus|coronaviruses]] was discussed in detail. The prevailing method (often called the "gold standard") among them all was real-time reverse-transcription [[polymerase chain reaction]] (rRT-PCR) assays for testing. Broadly speaking, PCR is useful in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and genetic engineering endeavors, as well as clinical diagnostics. As such, labs in those industries that already have PCR ifrastructure in place have a theoretical step-up over a lab that doesn't.
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| PCR technology has advanced to the point where it is more efficient and user-friendly than prior, yet "the high cost of the instruments, servicing contracts, and reagents pose major challenges for the market, especially to the price-sensitive academics."<ref name="MWPoly20">{{cite web |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/polymerase-chain-reaction-market-sector-analysis-report-regional-outlook-competitive-share-forecast---2023-2020-06-23 |title=Polymerase Chain Reaction Market Sector Analysis Report, Regional Outlook & Competitive Share & Forecast - 2023 |author=Kenneth Research |work=MarketWatch |date=23 June 2020 |accessdate=06 August 2020}}</ref> Amidst the pandemic, however, additional challenges also exist to those wanting to conduct PCR testing for COVID-19 and other viruses. As was discussed at the end of the previous chapter, supplies of reagents and consumables are not particularly robust mid-pandemic, with shortages being reported since March 2020.<ref name="HerperShortage20">{{cite web |url=https://www.statnews.com/2020/03/10/shortage-crucial-chemicals-us-coronavirus-testing/ |title=Shortage of crucial chemicals creates new obstacle to U.S. coronavirus testing |work=STAT |author=Herper, M.; Branswell, H. |date=10 March 2020 |accessdate=10 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="HaleQiagen20">{{cite web |url=https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/qiagen-aims-to-more-than-quadruple-its-covid-19-reagent-production-6-weeks |title=Qiagen aims to more than quadruple its COVID-19 reagent production in 6 weeks |work=Fierce Biotech |author=Hale, C. |date=18 March 2020 |accessdate=10 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="MehtaMystery20">{{cite web |url=https://www.chemistryworld.com/mystery-surrounds-uk-claim-of-covid-19-test-reagent-shortage/4011457.article |title=Mystery surrounds UK claim of Covid-19 test reagent ‘shortage’ |work=Chemistry World |author=Mehta, A. |date=03 April 2020 |accessdate=10 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="RocheIrish20">{{cite web |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/science/irish-scientists-develop-reagent-in-effort-to-ease-covid-19-testing-delays-1.4223897 |title=Irish scientists develop reagent in effort to ease Covid-19 testing delays |work=The Irish Times |author=Roche, B. |date=08 April 2020 |accessdate=10 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="PadmaEfforts20">{{cite web |url=https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/efforts-to-combat-covid-19-in-india-hit-by-imported-reagent-shortages/4011718.article#/ |title=Efforts to combat Covid-19 in India hit by imported reagent shortages |author=Padma, T.V. |work=Chemistry World |date=13 May 2020 |accessdate=19 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="DavidSurvey20">{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/survey-shows-resources-covid-19-diagnostic-testing-limited/story?id=71341885 |title=Survey shows resources for COVID-19 diagnostic testing still limited months later |author=David, E.; Farber, S.E. |work=ABC News |date=20 June 2020 |accessdate=08 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="JohnsonNCLabs20">{{cite web |url=https://patch.com/north-carolina/charlotte/nc-labs-facing-shortages-covid-19-testing-chemicals |title=NC Labs Facing Shortages In COVID-19 Testing Chemicals |author=Johnson, K. |work=Patch |date=02 July 2020 |accessdate=08 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="MervoshItsLike20">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/04/us/virus-testing-delays.html |title=‘It’s Like Having No Testing’: Coronavirus Test Results Are Still Delayed |author=Mervosh, S.; Fernandez, M. |work=The New York Times |date=04 August 2020 |accessdate=05 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="CourageCovid20">{{cite web |url=https://www.vox.com/2020/7/31/21336212/covid-19-test-results-delays |title=Should we be testing fewer people to stop the spread of Covid-19? |author=Courage, K.H. |work=Vox |date=31 July 2020 |accessdate=05 August 2020}}</ref> These shortages may eventually work themselves out, but they highlight the need for other varying methods that don't necessarily depend on the same reagents and consumables that are in short supply.
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| The explosion of new coronavirus tests that could help to end the pandemic https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02140-8
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| Methods for speeding up PCR (and alternatives such as LAMP and CRISPR):
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| * [[Journal:Fast SARS-CoV-2 detection by RT-qPCR in preheated nasopharyngeal swab samples]]
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| * https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2020/07/29/streamlined-diagnostic-approach-to-covid-19-can-avoid-potential-testing-logjam/
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| * https://www.techexplorist.com/improving-speed-gold-standard-covid-19-diagnostic-test/34069/
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| * https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/08/radical-shift-testing-strategy-needed-reopen-schools-and-businesses-researchers-say
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| * https://asiatimes.com/2020/08/pooled-virus-tests-help-stretched-health-services/
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| * https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-pooled-testing-can-help-us-fight-spread-of-covid-19
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| * https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jmv.26328
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| * https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/oxford-researchers-develop-portable-covid-19-test-costing-less-than-25
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| * <ref name="MervoshItsLike20">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/04/us/virus-testing-delays.html |title=‘It’s Like Having No Testing’: Coronavirus Test Results Are Still Delayed |author=Mervosh, S.; Fernandez, M. |work=The New York Times |date=04 August 2020 |accessdate=05 August 2020}}</ref>
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| * <ref name="CourageCovid20">{{cite web |url=https://www.vox.com/2020/7/31/21336212/covid-19-test-results-delays |title=Should we be testing fewer people to stop the spread of Covid-19? |author=Courage, K.H. |work=Vox |date=31 July 2020 |accessdate=05 August 2020}}</ref>
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| Alternative testing:
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| * https://thejewishvoice.com/2020/08/10-ways-israeli-scientists-are-improving-corona-testing-part-1/
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| * https://www.nation.co.ke/kenya/news/scientists-develop-covid-19-rapid-test-kit-1912962
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| Alternative reagents:
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| * https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/faster-local-covid-19-test-kits-could-be-ready-by-year-end-2020-07-30/rep_id:4136
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| POLs:
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| * https://hitconsultant.net/2020/08/03/talis-nih-contract-for-point-of-care-covid-19-testing/
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| * https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-delivering-new-covid-19-testing-technologies-meet-us-demand
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| ===3.2 The equipment===
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| ====Instruments====
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| [[File:Eppendorf Mastercycler Pro S.jpg|right|400px|thumb|Eppendorf Mastercycler Pro S, a thermal cycler for PCR and other applications]] Thermal cyclers (a.k.a. PCR machines) - standard PCR systems, RT PCR - advantages of digital PCR systems such as precision, sensitivity, accuracy, reproducibility, direct quantification and multiplexing, and speed of the analysis systems, and digital PCR systems "The market is witnessing an emerging trend of digital and droplet digital PCR technology, which is sensitive and accurate than the traditional method."
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| https://www.thermofisher.com/search/browse/category/us/en/602552/PCR+Machines+%28Thermal+Cyclers%29+%26+Accessories
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| https://blog.biomeme.com/how-do-you-test-for-covid-19
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| ====Reagents====
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| template DNA, PCR primers and probes, dNTPs, PCR buffers, enzymes, and master mixes
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| ====Consumables====
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| PCR tubes, plates, and other accessories
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| https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/labware/labware-products.html?TablePage=9577275
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| ====Software and services====
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| ===3.3 The vendors===
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| Major players operating in the global PCR market are Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., QIAGEN N.V., F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Becton, Dickinson and Company, Abbott, Siemens Healthcare GmbH (Siemens AG), bioMérieux SA, Danaher Corporation, and Agilent Technologies. Merck KGaA, Promega
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| ==References==
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| {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
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