Development of a fully automated high throughput PCR for the detection of SARS-CoV-2: The need for speed.

Currently, testing for coronavirus is performed with time and personnel consuming PCR assays. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and capacity of a fully automated, random access high-throughput real-time PCR-based diagnostic platform for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. The system displayed an equal or better detection rate for SARS-CoV-2 compared with the system and showed a specificity of 100%.

Comparison of different semi-automated cfDNA extraction methods in combination with UMI-based targeted sequencing.

The analysis of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) extracted from peripheral blood can serve as a minimally invasive alternative to tumor tissue biopsies in cases with impaired access to tissue. Its clinical utility has been well demonstrated for EGFR T790M testing in lung cancer patients suffering progress after tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment. At present, highly sensitive unique molecular identifiers (UMI)-based NGS for liquid biopsy testing is less established compared to single gene assays.

A chip-based rapid genotyping assay to discriminate between rhinovirus species A, B and C.

Background: Human rhinoviruses (RVs) are increasingly associated with severe disease of the respiratory tract. Multiple studies highlighted the clinical significance of different RV species; RV-C is linked to asthma exacerbations and increased disease severity in children, whereas RV-B seems to correlate with milder disease.

Objectives: Current typing strategies for differentiation of RV species are time consuming and require extensive equipment.