Fast SARS-CoV-2 detection by RT-qPCR in preheated nasopharyngeal swab samples
This "short communications" paper published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases describes the results of simplifying reverse transcription and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analyses for SARS-CoV-2 by skipping the RNA extraction step and instead testing three different types of direct heating of the nasopharyngeal swab. Among the three methods tested—heating directly without additives, heating with a formamide-EDTA buffer, and heating with an RNAsnap buffer—the direct heating method "provided the best results, which were highly consistent with the SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosis based on standard RNA extraction," while also processing nearly half the time. The authors warn, however, that "choice of RT-qPCR kits might have an impact on the sensitivity of the Direct protocol" when trying to replicate their results.
SCC Soft Computer Introduces 90-Day Rapid Implementation Featuring New Product SoftLIMS™
As laboratories prepare for an influx of testing due to COVID-19, SCC has established a rapid implementation of 90-days or less to onboard and accelerate COVID-19 tests.
SCC’s Rapid Implementation process gets laboratories up and running within 90-days in order to support the rapid growth of current testing within the healthcare marketplace. Starting with identifying the client’s goals, such as to minimize manual data entry/electronic documentation or to increase productivity via automation, the idea for many is to streamline the current processes to accelerate resulting as testing increases exponentially as months go on.
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What Is IQ OQ PQ in Software Validation
If you work in a business regulated by a government agency, once you’ve implemented or upgraded your LIMS, ELN, or CDS, you need to validate it for your intended use. One part of the validation process that often seems confusing to our clients is the IQ, OQ, PQ testing. This blog will demystify these validation protocol test scripts.
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Case Study: Cybersecurity Assessment for a Global Biopharmaceutical Company
One of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical companies, initiated an Enterprise Cyber Resiliency initiative to protect and isolate its manufacturing sites from cyber-attack and have the ability to sustain operations in light of a corporate-level attack. Due to Astrix Technology Group’s (Astrix) expertise with enterprise-wide laboratory information systems, experience working with other biotech and pharmaceutical companies, and track record of eliminating risk and delivering on similar projects for other life science organizations, the customer chose Astrix to conduct an assessment of its laboratory systems across five global manufacturing sites. [Read More]
Laboratory Informatics Weekly Update – Volume 18, Issue 27
July 7, 2020 Laboratory Informatics Weekly Update Volume 18, Issue 27 In This Issue Featured Books Past, Present, and Future of Cannabis Laboratory Testing and Regulation in the United States Featured Content 07/07/2020 - SCC Soft Computer Introduces 90-Day Rapid Implementation Featuring New Product SoftLIMS™As laboratories prepare for an influx of testing due to COVID-19, SCC has established a rapid implementation of 90-days or less to onboard and accelerate COVID-19 tests. SCC’s Rapid Implementation process gets laboratories up and running within 90-days in order to support the rapid growth of current testing within the healthcare marketplace. Starting with identifying…Bringing big data to bear in environmental public health: Challenges and recommendations
When it comes to analyzing the effects on humans of chemicals and other substances that make their way into the environment, "large, complex data sets" are often required. However, those data sets are often disparate and inconsistent. This has made epidemiological studies of air pollution and other types of environmental contamination difficult and limited in effectiveness. This problem has compounded in the age of big data. Comess et al. address the challenges associated with today's environmental public health data in this recent paper published in Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence and discuss how augmented intelligence, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning can enhance understanding of that data. However, they note, additional work must be put into improving not only analysis but also into how data is collected and shared, how researchers are trained in scientific computing and data science, and how familiarity with the benefits of AI and machine learning must be expanded. They conclude their paper with a table of five distinct challenges and their recommended way to address them so as to "create an environment that will foster the data revolution" in environmental public health and beyond.
Laboratory Informatics Weekly Update – Volume 18, Issue 26
June 30, 2020 Laboratory Informatics Weekly Update Volume 18, Issue 26 In This Issue Featured Books COVID-19 Testing, Reporting, and Information Management in the Laboratory Featured Content 06/29/2020 - Customer Specification Matching and Product Regrading with QLIMSProduct variation is a natural effect of manufacturing, the question here is how do you manage product variation in a manner that can improve your business and meet customer specifications. The Answer: Automating the customer specification and product regrading process.This is especially important for organisations that cater to a wide range of customers or export markets that may have different specifications due to preferences…Customer Specification Matching and Product Regrading with QLIMS
Product variation is a natural effect of manufacturing, the question here is how do you manage product variation in a manner that can improve your business and meet customer specifications.The Answer: Automating the customer specification and product regrading process.This is especially important for organisations that cater to a wide range of customers or export markets that may have different specifications due to preferences or government/industry regulations.
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3 Considerations for Building a Diagnostic Testing Lab
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has developed a renewed interest in, and placed an emphasis on, diagnostics. As a result, new companies and laboratories are being established across the U.S. to support the need for diagnostic testing. In some cases, companies are building brand new facilities from the ground up, while others are setting up diagnostic workflows in biotechnology incubators or other pre-existing laboratory infrastructures.
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Remote Capabilities in the World of COVID-19: Laboratory Informatics Roadmap for Encoded Therapeutics
Encoded Therapeutics Inc. (Encoded), a biotechnology company advancing precision medicines for a broad range of genetic disorders. With the increasing need to establish a harmonized laboratory data and process workflow to support the rapid growth of the company, Encoded Therapeutics chose Astrix Technology Group to develop their Informatics Roadmap and Sample Management strategy. However, the COVID-19 pandemic would require a novel new approach to doing business in an unprecedented remote work environment.
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Astrix On-Demand Webinar – Planning and Executing a LabVantage LIMS Validation
Validating a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) with the many configuration and integration options that are available for LabVantage requires significant project planning and team coordination to execute successfully. [Read More]
Enzyme immunoassay for measuring aflatoxin B1 in legal cannabis
In this 2020 paper published in the journal Toxins, Di Nardo et al. of the University of Turin present their findings from adapting an existing enzyme immunoassay to cannabis testing for purposes of more accurately detecting mycotoxins, including aflatoxins such as aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Citing benefits such as fewer steps, more cost-efficient equipment, and fewer training level demands, the authors viewed the application of enzyme immunoassay to testing cannabis for mycotoxins a worthy endeavor. Di Nardo et al. discuss at length how they converted an immunoassay for measuring aflatoxins in eggs to one for the cannabis substrate, as well as the various challenges and caveats associated with the resulting methodology. In comparison to techniques such as ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution tandem mass spectrometry, the authors concluded that enzyme immunoassay more readily allows for "wide applications in low resource settings and for the affordable monitoring of the safety of cannabis products, including those used recreationally and as a food supplement."
