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

• Published in: Journal of virological methods Vol. 299; p. 114339
• Main Authors: Haile, Simon, Nikiforuk, Aidan M., Pandoh, Pawan K., Twa, David D.W., Smailus, Duane E., Nguyen, Jason, Pleasance, Stephen, Wong, Angus, Zhao, Yongjun, Eisler, Diane, Moksa, Michelle, Cao, Qi, Wong, Marcus, Su, Edmund, Krzywinski, Martin, Nelson, Jessica, Mungall, Andrew J., Tsang, Frankie, Prentice, Leah M., Jassem, Agatha, Manges, Amee R., Jones, Steven J.M., Coope, Robin J., Prystajecky, Natalie, Marra, Marco A., Krajden, Mel, Hirst, Martin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.01.2022; The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V
• Subjects: Contamination; COVID-19; COVID-19 Testing; Cross-well; Hamilton NIMBUS; Humans; Indicators and Reagents; Magnetic beads; Magnetic Phenomena; Nucleic acid extraction; Nucleic Acids; Pandemics; RNA; RNA, Viral - genetics; SARS-CoV-2; Sensitivity and Specificity; Short Communication; COVID-19; Ct; SARS-CoV-2; Hamilton NIMBUS; NA; RNA; Nucleic acid extraction; Magnetic beads; qPCR; Cross-well; Contamination
• ISSN: 0166-0934; 1879-0984
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2021.114339

•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. 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.