Accelerating testing with automation
Technology—especially automation—can help. Automated systems are being used to speed up testing and minimize errors in sample handling ??by fast-tracking sample prep, an integral part of the workflow.Researchers are using Agilent research equipment, such as the Bravo, for investigation of COVID-19 research, exploring the development of new technologies and data analysis tools, and generating new biological insights. Scientists have adapted the CDC protocol, which is designed to be performed manually at low throughput, so that it could be run on automated liquid handling machines. This has given some facilities the ability to process 2,000 samples a day, adding to the capacity of labs and reducing the time needed to turn results around from several days to several hours.
A Boston-based bioengineering company is synthesizing DNA to help detect coronavirus with the help of the Bravo, Agilent custom oligonucleotide libraries, and enzymes. They are also sharing the information freely with other researchers. Research groups in California are also using the Bravo to ramp up their COVID-19 efforts. The feedback so far is that the Bravo has become an integral part of the workflow by helping with automation. It continues to surpass their initial expectations of running 1,000 samples and is closing in on nearly 3,000 samples per day!
Bravo automates the process of transferring liquids from one container to another. While a person can only transfer one or a few liquid samples at a time, Bravo does 96 samples at once. This not only accelerates throughput, but also maintains precision and accuracy while helping employees avoid repetitive stress injuries. Hand-in-hand with increased sampling comes the need for increased consumables. The Bravo instrument utilizes 96-well reservoir microplates designed and manufactured specifically by Agilent for automated liquid handlers. In fact, two major pharmaceutical companies in Europe are supporting government initiatives, and are relying on Agilent microplates for their automation protocols for COVID-19 efforts.The role of qRT-qPCR technology
qRT-qPCR is a powerful and cost-effective detection method consisting of isolating the RNA and amplifying the cDNA (making millions to billions of copies of the DNA), the use of labeling reagents, an integrated instrument for amplification and detection of the targeted DNA, and a data analysis workflow. Agilent supplies key reagents used across the qPCR workflow, including the Absolute RNA kit (for isolating viral RNA), AffinityScript reverse transcriptase (for converting isolated RNA into DNA), Brilliant Master Mixes for amplification and labeling, and the Aria Mx/Dx qPCR instrument. These reagents and instruments are supporting researchers striving to better understand COVID-19.