Automated RT-PCR set-up for COVID-19 testing

Introduction

The emergence and outbreak of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has placed unprecedented demands on laboratories testing for COVID-19, leaving scientific staff to contend with a spiraling influx of patient samples and a rapid, continuous growth in workload.

Laboratories need additional automated liquid handling instruments for viral nucleic acid extraction and RT-PCR set-up – which are the most labor-intensive processes in the diagnostic testing workflow – to increase the sample throughput capacity, reduce manual intervention by laboratory analysts and fast track the development of COVID-19 assays.

The ASSIST PLUS pipetting robot together with a VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipette, Low Retention GripTips and SureFlo™ 10 ml Reagent Reservoirs were successfully used for RT-PCR set-up in COVID-19 testing laboratories.