UAE’s Biogenix Labs received certification for using the Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology to conduct SARS-CoV-2 sequencing for COVID-19 surveillance and variant detection. Notably, Biogenix is the first COVID-19 accredited large-scale testing laboratory in the UAE, operating as part of G42 Healthcare - Abu Dhabi's leading health tech company.

With this development, Biogenix Labs has become a Certified Service Partner for Oxford Nanopore. In addition, it has become the first lab in the Middle East to receive the certification for the provision of cost-effective, high accuracy sequencing for genomic epidemiology to conduct swift surveillance of COVID-19 strain in RT-PCR positive cases.

 As a highly scalable protocol, it can be deployed on Oxford Nanopore’s range of sequencers including MinION, GridION and PromethION in accordance with the sample volumes and turnaround time. Noting the increasing capacity and volume of samples sequenced, Biogenix Labs has emerged as the preferred referral lab for COVID-19 epidemiology using genome sequencing.

The ARTIC Midnight protocol uses overlapping PCR amplified targets across the viral genome. It further gives the benefit of complete genome surveillance instead of focusing only on the gene that causes the viral spike protein.

In a pandemic situation, the barcoding capacity ensures the sequencing of thousands of samples in a single run per instrument along with a rapid analysis pipeline post-sequencing. It further allows scientists and healthcare workers to provide up-to-date variant information for disease management.

 As per reports, Nanopore sequencing and ARTIC Midnight Kit can provide higher coverage with less number of reads, producing lower ambiguous base calls. It is also affordable when compared to alternative approaches.

Speaking in this regard, Dr Fahed Al Marzooqi, Chief Operations Officer, G42 Healthcare, underlined Biogenix Labs' commitment to ensuring the safety of the community as the UAE’s first COVID-19 accredited large-scale throughput testing laboratory. So far, the lab has carried out more than 2.5 million RT PCR and saliva tests, allowing a safe return of thousands of people to work, travel and school.

“The ARTIC Midnight Kit will allow us to deliver high-quality SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequencing faster, with more flexible workflows and cost optimisation. In the long term, Oxford Nanopore sequencing unlocks many possibilities for the analysis of other pathogens, microbial surveillance, and larger public health impact that we look forward to exploring," he added.

Biogenix Labs was set up in only 14 days to provide urgent scale-up COVID-19 testing services in early 2020. The facility also played a significant role in the 4Humanity Phase III inactivated vaccine trials. At the same time, it has become a frontrunner in diagnostics and viral genome sequencing in the UAE and region. The laboratory expanded its services to facilitate molecular and genomic diagnosis to provide crucial insights into rare disease treatments.

According to experts, genomic epidemiology has played a critical role in the successful control and prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic globally. Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology is being used in over 100 countries across the world in the aftermath of COVID-19. With this technology, scientists and medical professionals have been able to track pathogen evolution and provide detailed insights to guide pandemic decision-making as well as management of future outbreaks.

Dr Gordon Sanghera, Chief Executive Officer, Oxford Nanopore, expressed pleasure in seeing nanopore sequencing services being provided by G42 Healthcare’s Biogenix Labs to enhance SARS-CoV-2 sequencing efforts.

"The team have already made a huge contribution to the pandemic response and this certification will enable them to continue to gain rapid insights to inform public health decision-makers," Dr Sanghera added.

Enabled by Oxford Nanopore sequencing, the ARTIC Midnight Kit ensures a rapid turnaround of thousands of samples. The scalable nature of the technology also allows minimal hands-on time, facilitating automation and high throughput. These features make it a cost-optimal technology. Currently, the ARTIC classic method is being used extensively to strengthen the efforts of public health infrastructures to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.