Covid-19: the diagnostic platform of the Scientific Center of Monaco mobilized 7 days a week
Teams mobilized 7 days a week
“Last winter, we had already gone through a similar situation. We had increased the hourly amplitude of the platform’s activity in order to be able to analyze up to 800 daily samples, recalls Doctor Christian Lavagna, head of the screening platform. This year, the determination of the level of protection by the analysis of neutralizing antibodies was added to the nasopharyngeal examination and, the large number of positive samples, linked to the strong contagiousness of the Omicron variant, led us to set up an activity seven days a week to offer even more flexibility and support to the Monegasque population. “
Results in about 6 hours
The device will thus be “As long as the situation requires”, provides CSM, and currently delivers nasopharyngeal swab results in about six hours.
On December 16, the CSM teams passed the symbolic milestone of 100,000 PCR tests carried out since May 2020. Some 500 samples are analyzed every day and hundreds of serological analyzes are also carried out daily.
These make it possible to measure the level of immunity against the virus. They are particularly recommended for people who need to take their booster dose.
A new sequencing device for more independence
As part of the continued deployment of the diagnostic tools of the transmissible disease screening platform, the Monaco Scientific Center will be equipped with a sequencing device. It will allow a complete genetic analysis of a virus to be carried out.
“This tool will allow us to acquire independence and thus respond quickly to the exact identification of new variants. But also to be able to monitor the mutations of the different strains and thus contribute to the international monitoring put in place since the start of the pandemic ”, explains Doctor Lavagna.
And to specify: “Systematic verification of the genome also makes it possible to decode the resistance profile of the virus, an essential means for the development of effective vaccines. Under these conditions, it will no longer be necessary to have recourse to the acquisition of screening kits, such as those we currently use and which only detect the presence of known variants ”.