How to transform and develop nucleic acid testing capabilities in the post pandemic era

Taking HPV DNA detection, the best molecular diagnostic technology developed before the COVID-19, as an example, the platform of conventional HPV detection methods is not open, and special equipment such as special "hybridizer" needs to be used, with high costs, many steps, low detection efficiency, and long time consumption, which not only occupies laboratory space, but also occupies labor costs. Choosing a universal testing platform, such as real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR technology, can directly carry out other projects in almost all newly added PCR laboratories without additional equipment costs, achieving rapid transformation and expansion of nucleic acid testing capabilities.

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From the perspective of public health, such a massive nucleic acid testing capability can be quickly transformed into public health prevention and control capabilities. The innovative application of molecular diagnostic technology can further improve China's public health prevention and control capabilities, as well as enhance the prevention and control level of major diseases such as infectious diseases and cancer. Haste leads to waste. After the rapid construction and development of nucleic acid testing capabilities, there have also been many quality problems. Recently, relevant departments of the National Health Commission have successively issued notices to increase regulatory efforts and emphasize the quality of nucleic acid testing.

At the national policy level, we vigorously crack down on illegal and irregular behaviors in nucleic acid testing, aiming to better ensure the quality of nucleic acid testing products and services. Before the COVID-19, the obstacles encountered in the development and construction of PCR laboratories in China, such as insufficient personnel, high technical threshold, high environmental requirements, and high construction costs, have been solved; At present, the quality issues of nucleic acid testing not only remind testing institutions to strengthen quality supervision and avoid illegal and irregular issues, but also remind medical institutions and laboratories at all levels to choose products with more reliable quality and easier quality control when expanding nucleic acid testing projects. Platform scalability is equally important. Choosing a universal testing platform for expansion projects can directly expand on existing platforms, saving a lot of procurement and operational costs.

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