New Challenges for SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostics: Viral Load Testing and Variant Strain Genotyping

Even as COVID-19 vaccines are being deployed around the world, the clinical laboratory will continue to play a major role this year helping to control the pandemic by diagnosing new infections and improving disease management. This webinar will discuss two critically important issues clinical labs are facing today: 1) SARS-CoV-2 viral load testing and the clinical correlates and 2) early detection of new strains that are more infectious or more pathogenic using genotyping assays. Dr. Nate Ledeboer, PhD Professor and Vice Chair, Pathology; Medical Director, Medical College of Wisconsin will present his views on these topics and will share data from his laboratory. Dr. Russell Garlick, PhD, Chief Scientific officer LGC Clinical Diagnostics, will present the technologies used to advance viral load standardization and strain genotyping by qPCR and NGS assays. The webinar will include a 15 minute Q&A session.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss the benefits and barriers to reporting Ct values in SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests

2. Explore the process of developing quantitative standards to support SARS-CoV-2 viral load testing

3. To review and understand SARS-CoV-2 variants and their impact on laboratory testing

4. To review and understand the use of SARS-CoV-2 recombinant viral reference materials for assay development and QC of genotyping assays