Panel Presentation: COVID-19 Testing: Results and Recommendations from the Coronavirus Standards Working Group

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, SARS-CoV-2 molecular testing continues to play a central role managing patient care and supporting epidemiological studies or developing new anti-virals and vaccines. As we approach three years since the pandemic started, what are some key learnings and how do these experiences prepare the diagnostic ecosystem for the future? The Coronavirus Standards Working Group (CSWG), with members from commercial, academic, non-governmental and governmental organizations was formed early in the pandemic to identify key technical issues surrounding SARS-CoV-2 testing and to help develop and test SARS-CoV-2 reference standards. The CSWG was unique opportunity for scientists from around the globe to regularly share their experiences and to advance best practices towards standardization.

The first speaker for this webinar is Marc Salit PhD, MITRE Fellow, MITRE McLean Virginia. Marc was formerly Director of the Joint Initiative for Metrology in Biology, Stanford University where he led the CSWG. Dr. Salit has broad experience with not only the CSWG but also on innovation and development of measurement sciences, standards, methods, and tools for biology. Dr. Salit will discuss highlights from the publication “A roadmap to better COVID-19 testing the Coronavirus Standards Working Group” and initial data characterizing fit-for-purpose standards developed from different technologies calibrated to the WHO SARS-CoV-2 Internal Standard and tested across multiple platforms and assay formats.

The second speaker is Eric Morreale PhD, Director of Marketing and Product Management, LGC Clinical Diagnostics. Eric manages molecular diagnostics products lines and has responsibility for the future product roadmap. Dr.  Morreale will provide an update on the AccuPlex product line and discuss LGCs role supporting COVID-19 testing.

Learning Objectives:

1. Review of the results of the Coronavirus Standards Working Group study.

2. Express some of the sources of variability in viral RNA abundance measurements.

3. Evaluation of efforts around development of traceable standards for SARS-CoV-2 testing.