First sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 virus performed in ANSP laboratory

17:19 | 13.12.2021 Category: Social

Chisinau, Dec. 13 / MOLDPRES /- The National Agency for Public Health / ANSP / announced today that the first sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was performed using the latest generation Ion Torent GENEXUS sequencer, procured with the financial support of the European Union and the technical assistance of the World Health Organization.

According to ANSP, for the first time, 31 confirmed samples with COVID-19 infection were examined by sequencing. Following the analysis, the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus was identified in the 31 samples.

The results of the sequencing data will be integrated into the national surveillance system and shared in GISAID EpiCov - the international database (www.gisaid.org), where it will be possible to compare and correlate with virus variants with mutations existing in other countries. This will allow monitoring the dynamics of virus transmission and the emergence of new genetic variants, investigating the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 genotypes and epidemiological data, such as transmissibility and disease severity.

In the same context, ANSP announces that five specialists from ANSP's virology laboratory have been trained to detect new SARS-CoV-2 variants, who will then establish the criteria for selecting sequencing samples to identify possible mutation variants.

Photo: ANSP

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