Finding asymptomatic carriers reduces spread. An analysis published last month in JAMA Network Open estimated more than half of all COVID-19 transmission originates in people who don't know they are infected. The UMGC’s highly-automated lab is ideally suited to assist with asymptomatic assurance testing by pooling samples 5:1 to reduce the costs per test.

The Assurance Testing Alliance (ATA) connects laboratories with schools, elder care settings, employers, and other communities that need regular testing. Thus far, ATA member organizations have contracted with several laboratories to enable nationwide impact, including the Broad Institute, Guardant Health, and University of Minnesota's Genomics Center.

In our continuing commitment to assess and acquire emerging genomic technologies, we have advanced our long-read sequencing service by installing the PacBio Sequel II. With the Sequel II System, UMN researchers will see longer reads with greater accuracy and generate more HiFi data per SMRT Cell 8M.