We are now offering a Whole Genome Sequencing service to support SARS-CoV-2 testing laboratories, enabling them to provide Day 2 testing for 'Test to Release' in the UK.
Government regulations, recently announced, set out the minimum standards that private sector providers must meet for SARS-CoV-2 tests for people arriving in England.
All international arrivals to the UK are required to take a test on day 2 and day 8 of their quarantine period for variant surveillance.
Day 2 samples shown to be positive from qRT-PCR testing will have the SARS-CoV-2 genomes sequenced to look for novel variants.
Advances in viral surveillance with Whole Genome Sequencing
We are now offering a Whole Genome Sequencing service to support SARS-CoV-2 testing laboratories, enabling them to provide Day 2 testing for 'Test to Release' in the UK.
During the pandemic, we have expanded our accredited service facility to support a complete SARS-CoV-2 testing workflow. We've now developed a novel and highly rapid Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) library preparation approach for sequencing viral genomes with nanopore sequencing.
Whole genome sequencing increases our understanding of the changes in the viral genome that will allow public health institutions to monitor the development and spread of the epidemic, guide control measures and inform vaccine research. Assay development for the new service was funded by a grant from Innovate UK, the UK's innovation agency.
Chris Sale, CEO of Nonacus, said: "We are proud to have developed this clinical service and support the government's test-to-release scheme. Our method will provide a faster, lower cost offering for Whole Genome Viral Sequencing, which will be key in identifying and monitoring variants. We look forward to supporting laboratories undertaking SARS-CoV-2 testing, as well as aiding public health institutions in their surveillance of the virus."