Webinar on "Point-of-Care Nucleic Acid Extraction"
Date: 12th January, 2022
Time: 13:00 to 15:00 (Central European Time)
13:00 Opening and welcome note
Session Chair: Dr. Ahmed Abd El Wahed
13:10 The journey of implementing rapid nucleic acid extraction for molecular diagnostics
Dr Ahmed Abd El Wahed, Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Germany
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In diagnostics, rapid delivery of results is a key feature. Despite the improvements in molecular diagnostics (rapid PCR and isothermal amplification), an effective rapid sample preparations procedure is still missing. In my presentation, an overview of rapid extraction protocol during outbreak situations will be discussed and data from real-life scenario will be presented. Future application and implementation of rapid extraction protocol will be explained.
14:00 Isothermal Molecular Diagnosis of Urogenital Schistosomiasis: simple sample preparations are essential for use in low resource settings
Dr Bonnie Webster, Natural History Museum, Parasites and Vectors, United Kingdom
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Diagnostic sample choice and sample preparation is a major component of any field-based molecular diagnostic procedure, which is often overlooked in many studies with the primary focus often being on only the molecular assay’s performance. However, without a rapid and field-appropriate DNA extraction method that provides a suitable DNA preparation, with regards to quality, purity and concentration, molecular assays cannot be deployed at the point-of-care. Here, we assess the use of a rapid and portable S. haematobium recombinase polymerase amplification (Sh-RPA) molecular diagnostic assay, coupled with simplified sample preparation methods that can be carried out in resource-poor settings, to diagnose urogenital schistosomiasis.
14:25 Evaluation of Rapid Extraction Protocols for Microbial DNA from skin lesion samples
Dr Michael Frimpong, Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
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Molecular point-of-care (POC) diagnosis of clinically suspected cases of skin neglected tropical Diseases in endemic districts will help facilitate early case detection with prompt treatment, thereby reducing disability and associated costs of disease management. The accuracy as well as the application of these molecular techniques at point of need (PON) is dependent on simple and fast DNA extraction. We have evaluated a couple of rapid extraction protocols for use with an already developed recombinase polymerase amplification assay or polymerase chain reaction for Mycobacterium ulcerans detection. The entire procedure from “sample in, extraction and DNA amplification” ideal for deployment as a POC/PON tool should be within an hour. The DNA extraction procedure was performed within 15 min, with few two manipulation/pipetting steps needed. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of this extraction protocols together with M. ulcerans RPA/PCR in comparison with standard DNA extraction with real-time PCR. We have adapted a simple, fast and efficient protocol for the extraction and detection of M. ulcerans DNA in clinical samples that is applicable to field conditions.
14:50 Xpedite Diagnostics and SwiftX: a growing portfolio of POC extraction solutions
Dr Andy Wende, CEO Xpedite Diagnostics GmbH, Munich, Germany
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Proper sample preparation is often neglected as an essential and important part of the diagnostic workflow. Key to this is a two-fold challenge: quantitative lysis of cells as well as virus particles, and efficient removal of inhibitors. Xpedite Diagnostics is specialized in nucleic acid extraction from various sample material and is continuously developing specialized solutions for researchers and diagnostic labs. Our kits are intended to provide simplified yet effective nucleic acid extraction that can be applied under POC/PON conditions.