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TGen steps up testing to fight the Coronavirus

Posted 3/30/20

The Translational Genomics Research Institute infectious disease lab is providing critically-needed testing for Arizona in combating the global health pandemic.

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TGen steps up testing to fight the Coronavirus

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The Translational Genomics Research Institute infectious disease lab is providing critically-needed testing for Arizona in combating the global health pandemic.

Since mid-January, TGen has joined world-wide efforts to test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing the COVID-19 disease, according to a press release.

Acting as “Genomic First Responders,” TGen, an affiliate of City of Hope, uses advanced biomedical technologies to study this disease while working to help establish a statewide tracking network for COVID-19, the release said.

TGen began working with federal, state, county and tribal governments, private healthcare providers and others to expand testing for COVID-19 in Arizona in early March, the release said, after receiving Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA for its genomic-based test.

TGen’s CLIA lab is processing up to 300 samples per day for its clinical testing, the release noted.

Also,  TGen has received patient respiratory samples daily in cases where other lung diseases have been ruled out to gauge the general population incidence of the virus; conducted analysis of samples from suspected and symptomatic individuals for COVID-19 from select communities from Native American communities to long-term healthcare centers and even jail populations.

Through TGen, Arizona is moving to establish a comprehensive public health testing program for high-risk but asymptomatic individuals, such as healthcare workers “who could be a dangerous reservoir for the viruson the first line of defense in combatting this pandemic, said the release.

High-risk asymptomatic individuals are more likely to contribute to the infection rates than symptomatic individuals, since symptomatic individuals are less likely to be out in public, according to the release.

TGen has increased testing capacity as TGen tests were designed not to rely on the same “supply chain” as the federal government’s COVID-19 test kits. While this is an advantage for conducting the actual tests, TGen and other centers still face sample-collection issues, such as not having enough sample swabs.

However, TGen has a robust capacity to conduct COVID-19 testing, which is being increased, the release said, noting that performing tests in Arizona reduces the time to report back results, compared to having to send samples out of state for testing.

TGen is not administering tests to the general public, but is analyzing samples from public-health and healthcare entities, according to the release.

“We are not only able to answer the call for the State of Arizona, but also for others, as well,” said Dr. Jeffrey Trent, TGen president and research director, in a prepared statement.

He founded non-profit TGen, headquartered in downtown Phoenix, in 2002 with the help of Arizona government agencies, the business community and private contributions.

“TGen joins with the international scientific community and others in this battle to protect the health of people across Arizona and throughout the nation.”

“We are constantly in pursuit of precision medicine, providing unparalleled capacity, accuracy and speed at a time when all of these qualities are essential in beating back the global health threat posed by emerging diseases like COVID-19,” said Dr. David Engelthaler, co-director of TGen’s Pathogen and Microbiome Division (infectious diseases) in Flagstaff, in a prepared statement.

To cover the initial costs of efforts, TGen has received support of $100,000 from each of the following: the non-profit NARBHA Institute, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona, and two private foundations — the Flinn Foundation and Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust.

To donate: tgen.org/covid19.

For those who may feel like they require testing, contact Arizona’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-844-542-8201.