PCR test kits (FOI)PCR test kits (FOI)
Produced by the Freedom of Information officeAuthored by Government of Jersey and published on
22 April 2022.Prepared internally, no external costs.
Request
Please provide details of the PCR testing kits used in Jersey for analysing the swabs and the equipment used.
I am not talking about the kits used to take samples but rather that used to analyse the samples.
Response
PCR testing can be performed in a number of ways. These can be fully automated, semiautomated or manual.
On-island PCR testing is performed in the hospital laboratory using a Cepheid machine
(called a GeneXpert) and Cepheid test kits. The hospital laboratory also uses a semiautomated testing process using QIAsymphony instruments and test kits which are provided by Qiagen.
On-island testing in the COVID Open Cell laboratory uses a generic testing process called Real Time PCR which makes use of machines and reagents from a variety of manufacturers.
Off-island testing is performed by two UK labs: Public Health England and Micropathology,
both of which also use real PCR in a similar way to the on-island COVID laboratory. In addition, Public Health England use a machine called a Hologic Panther, along with the corresponding test kits from Hologic.
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