Zymo Research partners with Tecan for COVID-19 viral RNA extraction
The partnership aims to launch a ready-to-go processing solution that streamlines viral DNA/RNA extraction
2 Apr 2020
Zymo Research has announced a partnership with Tecan to launch a ready-to-go processing solution to streamline viral DNA/RNA extraction from nasopharyngeal swabs, oropharyngeal swabs, saliva, sputum, plasma, and serum. The DreamPrep™ NAP workstation, featuring Zymo Research’s Quick-DNA/RNA™ Viral MagBead Kit, simplifies the process by providing pre-loaded scripts, optimized for viral RNA extraction, that are currently being validated for COVID-19 assays by high complexity testing labs.
As the COVID-19 pandemic expands, laboratories are scaling up testing using high-throughput automated workflows to isolate the viral RNA for subsequent detection. These workflows typically require time-consuming scripting, configuration, and optimization for the nucleic acid extraction to function properly, which can dramatically decrease lab scalability in this critical time.
“Nucleic acid extractions can be one of the most challenging, frustrating, and time-consuming portions of a workflow to automate,” said Ryan Kemp, Director of Nucleic Acid Solutions at Zymo Research. “With push-to-start sample purification, the DreamPrep™ NAP workstation is uniquely positioned to help labs around the world quickly and effectively scale their testing to accommodate a much larger number of tests and ultimately mitigate the spread of the virus.”
Kemp notes, “We understand the need to rapidly respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and have dramatically increased our supply of the Quick-DNA/RNA™ Viral MagBead extraction kits. Additionally, we have expanded our team of technical experts to help with the global effort. Both Zymo Research and Tecan are giving the highest priority to assist researchers who are extracting viral RNA using the DreamPrep™ NAP workstation.”
In the past year, Zymo Research and Tecan have worked together to optimize magnetic bead-based extraction of viral RNA using the cutting-edge DreamPrep™ NAP workstation. The result of this collaboration is a preprogrammed, preconfigured, load-and-go system that is optimized for high-throughput viral RNA extraction. The workstation features a user-friendly interface and guided setup to streamline implementation.
“By combining the Zymo Research optimized extraction kits with our easy-to-use liquid handling platform, we have delivered a complete viral processing solution with the DreamPrep™ NAP workstation,” said Beatrice Marg-Haufe, Product Manager at Tecan. “In this challenging climate, we are working very closely with Zymo Research to enable scientists to respond to this pandemic quickly.”
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Quick-DNA™ HMW MagBead Kit
Zymo ResearchThe Quick-DNA™ HMW MagBead Kit is the easiest method for high molecular weight total DNA extraction (e.g., genomic, mitochondrial, viral) from any biological fluid, cell culture, solid tissue, or environmental sample. Innovative reagents and Zymo Research’s unique system allow for a simple Bind, Wash, & Elute procedure that is unmatched in providing ultra-pure and high yield DNA of > 150 kb size. Isolated DNA is ready for immediate use in sensitive downstream applications including long read (Oxford Nanopore™) and NGS sequencing, qPCR, arrays, and methylation analysis. The Quick-DNA™ HMW MagBead Kit facilitates rapid and efficient purification of high molecular weight DNA from any sample by combining enzymatic and chemical extraction regimens. Features: High Molecular Weight DNA: Extract high molecular weight DNA up to 150 kb from any sample Ultra-Pure: Highest DNA yield and purity equipped with RNA removal technology Third-Generation Sequencing Ready: Optimized for long read sequencing (including Oxford Nanopure™ and PacBio SMRT sequencing™)