New Corona test procedure: Same accuracy, higher capacity
Current the Corona-threaten-to test capacity to the bottleneck in the identification of Infected and it is been working hard to increase the capacity. Thanks to a new test method was developed by a research team from the blood donation service of the German Red cross in Frankfurt and the University hospital of the Goethe University in Frankfurt, could be increased the volume significantly in the short term, without losing accuracy of the original.
With the newly developed method, the test could be increased capacity for the detection of the new Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 from now on, the world drastically, the communication of the Goethe-University of Frankfurt. Thus, the Corona could be testing further expanded in order to identify as many of the Infected and the Transmission limit. The President of the Goethe University, prof Dr Birgitta Wolff, in the new analysis procedure a “milestone” in the fight against the Corona Virus.
Increased Corona testing required
That increased Corona Tests can also be important in the containment of the infections, helpful and, above all, the medical staff should be regularly lump-tested because the infection is often without symptoms, and Sufferers can still be Carriers, is in the professional world largely undisputed.
Screening for system-relevant professional groups
“In order to continue the strategy of early detection and isolation is efficiently implemented, is an extension of the screening tests is essential, especially for system-relevant professional groups such as Doctors, nurses, police, firefighters, old people’s homes, the administration, the food industry,” emphasize the researchers of the blood donation service of the German Red cross in Frankfurt and the University hospital of the Goethe University Frankfurt.
Lack of testing capacity of the bottleneck
However, the available test capacity are increasingly the bottleneck. Here, the research team of Professor Erhard Seifried followed by the blood donation service of the German Red cross, and Professor Sandra Ciesek from the Institute for Medical Virology of the University hospital of the Goethe-University of Frankfurt a new approach to increase the test capacity significantly in the short term. In a Pool Test multiple different samples to be brought together and examined jointly. The Test is negative, all samples are free of viruses, otherwise a single investigation follows.
Samples in the Pool test
For the Pool Test, mucous membrane swab samples of the throat or the nose to be led by a suitable method in a buffer solution, and then with the help of the so-called PCR method (Polymerase chain reaction method) were tested, explained the research team. In this case, the pool have a limit test no impact on the proof and in case of a positive mini-pool-finding a single test in a previously prepared reference samples, so that positive samples can be identified within four hours.
Accuracy as in the case of individual testing
Since this pool method, the volume of the pool vessel is not increased, there is no dilution and therefore no decrease in the sensitivity (sensitivity) to determine further reported to the research team. With the new mini-pool method, the laboratory results are of the same quality as in the single-testing can be achieved. The researchers, according to first Checks in a small box, confirmed the attempt on 50 unselected patient samples, which were grouped into ten mini-pools of five samples, the accuracy as well.
Expansion of the Corona Tests
“So it is possible that of all the scientists and politicians required expansion of testing in other population groups to implement also in the case of the limited test resources earlier than previously thought,” says Prof. Seifried. And Prof. Ciesek added that “on the Basis of these laboratory results, in particular, large cohorts and studies in asymptomatic people can be carried out, wherein this is a massive saving in particular of test kits was not possible”. Currently am also working on ways to increase the size of the pool.
From 4,000 to up to 400,000 Tests per day
With the developed method, the Corona can be used to test capacity in Germany from the current level of approximately 40,000 examinations per day to 200,000 to 400,000 tests increase, without reducing the high quality of the diagnosis, stress the researchers. “With the new method, Germany can raise the global fight against the SARS-CoV-2 to a new Level,” says Prof. Seifried. Because “the more people can be on SARS-CoV-2 tested, the faster the pandemic is to contain,” adds Dr. Wolff. (fp)
