Automated next generation sequencing platform can accurately screen thousands for COVID-19

EurekAlert  March 3, 2021 Researchers in Canada have developed a multiplexed, scalable, readily automated platform “Systematic Parallel Analysis of RNA coupled to Sequencing for Covid-19 screening” (C19-SPAR-Seq), for SARS-CoV-2 detection that can analyze tens of thousands of patient samples in a single run. To address strict requirements for control of assay parameters and output demanded by clinical diagnostics, they employed a control-based Precision-Recall and Receiver Operator Characteristics (coPR) analysis to assign run-specific quality control metrics. C19-SPAR-Seq coupled to coPR on a trial cohort of several hundred patients performed with a specificity of 100% and sensitivity of 91% on samples with […]

Dogs Deployed at Helsinki Airport Can Detect COVID-19 With Almost 100% Accuracy

Science Alert  September 25, 2020 The aim of this study by an international team of researchers is to evaluate if the sweat produced by COVID-19 persons has a different odor for trained detection dogs than the sweat produced by non-COVID-19 persons. The study was conducted on 3 sites, following the same protocol procedures, and involved a total of 18 dogs. The percentages of success of the dogs to find the positive sample in a line containing several other negative samples were 100p100 for 4 dogs, and respectively 83p100, 84p100, 90p100 and 94p100 for the others, all significantly different from the […]