Short communication
Optimization of magnetic bead-based nucleic acid extraction for SARS-CoV-2 testing using readily available reagents

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jviromet.2021.114339Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Highlights

  • Development of an assay to rigorously assess cross-well contamination inherent to open liquid handling instruments.

  • Clinical assessment of generic magnetic bead-based extraction protocols for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing.

  • Development of a standard operating procedure for clinical SARS-CoV-2 testing on an open liquid handling platform.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for generic reagents and flexible systems in diagnostic testing. Magnetic bead-based nucleic acid extraction protocols using 96-well plates on open liquid handlers are readily amenable to meet this need. Here, one such approach is rigorously optimized to minimize cross-well contamination while maintaining sensitivity.

Abbreviations

NA
nucleic acid
qPCR
quantitative polymerase chain reaction
Ct
PCR cycle threshold

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19
Nucleic acid extraction
RNA
Cross-well
Contamination
Hamilton NIMBUS
Magnetic beads

Cited by (0)