COMPLETE, AUTOMATED PCR-BASED SARS-COV-2 DETECTION
The current outbreak of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has highlighted the need for technologies to support rapid, high-throughput testing of samples for SARS-CoV-2. Our workflow enables labs to maintain sample integrity and minimize cross contamination of PCR samples by providing modular and scalable automated workflow solutions. Our SARS-CoV-2 testing workflows provide high quality nucleic acid extraction, automation with flexible throughput, and full traceability.

KEY POINTS:
- Simplifies SARS-CoV-2 primary sample handling
- Adds lysis buffers, internal standards, and enzymes
- Prepares purification of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenic RNA
- Has an easy-to-use pooling method

Primary Sample Handling
The JANUS® G3 primary sample reformatter simplifies SARS-CoV-2 primary sample handling. It provides safe and traceable barcode scanning as well as reformatting of up to 192 biological samples into various destination labware, e.g., the chemagic™ 360 instrument, to prepare extraction of viral pathogenic RNA. This liquid handler enables the addition of lysis buffers, internal standards, and enzymes. Furthermore, the JANUS® G3 primary sample reformatter prepares the plating of beads, wash buffers, and elution buffers for the nucleic acid extraction on the chemagic™ 360 nucleic acid extractor. To meet the demand for pooling samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing, PerkinElmer has created an easy-to-use method on the JANUS® G3 primary sample reformatter.
KEY POINTS:
- Enables sample volumes up to 300 µl for SARS-CoV-2 testing
- Processes from 96 to 4,200 samples per day/instrument
- Allows simple and fast installation by user-friendly interface
- Allows bar code reading and sample tracking
- Integrates with liquid handling platforms

Automated High-Throughput Isolation of Viral RNA
After the primary sample handling, the nucleic acid extraction can be performed with the chemagic™ 360 instrument. The chemagic™ Viral DNA/RNA 300 kit H96 enables automated high-throughput isolation from various SARS-CoV-2 associated samples such as nasal or oropharyngeal swabs, saliva, BAL, sputum, serum or plasma. Equipped with a chemagic™ 96 Rod Head Set, the chemagic™ 360 instrument process 96 samples at once in as little as 31 minutes with an optimized short protocol. The eluted viral RNA is ready for subsequent analysis via RT-PCR.

Fig. 1: No cross-contamination are visible tested with 5 µL Millipore® Mill-iQ® water and 5 µL HSV direct control on chemagic™ 360 instrument.
“We are using chemagic™ 360 (Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction system) installed in our laboratory for COVID-19 testing. We are running 32 min. short protocol (recently updated by the PerkinElmer Team) and getting good result with our RT PCR. Die to this short protocol we are able to run approx. 4000 samples/day with two instruments. The instrument supplied has been functioning well, satisfying the requirements of our applications and meeting our expectations for quality and reliability.”
Department of Microbiology, Government of Rajasthan, S.M.S Medical School, Jaipur
KEY POINTS:
- Prepares real-time RT-PCR sample for SARS-CoV-2 detection
- Reduces risk of hands-on errors
- Easy-to-use, standardized protocols installed

Automated SARS-CoV-2 Real-time RT-PCR Assay Setup
The JANUS® G3 PCR workstation delivers traceable and reproducible real-time PCR sample preparation for SARS-CoV-2 detection. This automated workstation offers full walk-away PCR sample prep with reduced risk of hands-on errors in SARS-CoV-2 testing.
Scalable, High-throughput SARS-CoV-2 Testing
The explorer™ G3 integrated workstation for SARS-CoV-2 testing automates and standardizes the disparate steps in the SARS-CoV-2 testing workflow to maximize testing throughput and minimize hands-on time, equipment, and labor requirements. With the ability to process up to 10,000 samples/day on a single system, the scalable and modular explorer™ G3 automated workstation for SARS-CoV-2 testing improves the efficiency of laboratories 24/7 while eliminating errors and reducing the demands on laboratory staff.
The scalable and modular nature of the explorer™ G3 integrated workstation for SARS-CoV-2 testing ensures that as your needs change, your automation solutions change with you. These single-source SARS-CoV-2 workflows simplify procurement. With seamless installation and experts available to support the complete SARS-CoV-2 workflow, we can eliminate many of the challenges associated with SARS-CoV-2 testing. Your explorer™ G3 workstations can be used to automate other laboratory processes too.
