On January 30, GrandOmics announced the completion of a new full-length test kit for SARS-CoV-2 based on nanopore sequencing technology. In addition, they have used the technology to develop a macrogenome pathogen detection method.

Successful development of SARS-CoV-2 full-length nucleic acid test kit by GrandOmics

The test kit from GrandOmics uses multiplex PCR technique to amplify the pathogen nucleic acid, and then uses a nanopore sequencer to sequence the pathogens. The obtained nucleic acid sequence is compared with known pathogen sequences to determine the pathogen type. With the advantages of real-time long-read sequencing, short running time, and simple library construction, the nanopore sequencing technology overcomes the limitations of traditional NGS sequencing platforms. The test kit does not require complex sample or sequencing site preparation. Macrogenome pathogen detection can detect rapidly evolving pathogens and other unknown pathogens.

This successful application of nanopore sequencing is a revolutionary leap in real-time monitoring of virus evolution and mutation.

During this year's spring festival period, all of China has been doing their best in the fight against the coronavirus.

By 24:00 on February 1, 2020, 14,380 patients had been confirmed as infected with the coronavirus, and 19,544 patients had been reported as suspected carriers. (Data source: People's Daily)

During this outbreak, the primary task of medical enterprises is improving R&D using medical technologies to help people better understand SARS-CoV-2, thereby strengthening epidemic prevention and control.

Epidemic prevention and control is a complex task that requires not only detection of known viruses, but also prevention and control of new viruses, which are likely to be ignored or missed. Furthermore, it is also necessary to conduct flexible and real-time monitoring and research into the evolution and mutation of all known and newly discovered pathogenic viruses and bacteria.

GrandOmics is a local enterprise in Wuhan and the first precision medicine company in China to focus on third-generation sequencing technology. Its core R&D team is dedicated to research and development of new diagnosis techniques based on third-generation single-molecule sequencing during the coronavirus outbreak. Using the advantages of this technology, the R&D team focused on the following points:

1. Real-time virus detection and analysis

2. Use of 5G technologies to perform cloud computing detection and analysis in temporarily isolated areas or mobile labs, enabling rapid transfer of data and reduction of travel distances for samples

3. Development of virus evolution and mutation detection technology based on full-length genomes

Prevention and control are crucial for combating the spread of SARS-CoV-2. The introduction of this new test kit and GrandOmics's macrogenome detection technology will provide critical technical support in the fight against the virus.

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