The USFDA has recently authorized the first next-generation sequence test for the diagnosis of COVID-19. The test will facilitate the qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from respiratory specimens of suspected COVID-19 individuals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the ingenuity of healthcare providers working in partnership with the private sector is realized. Now with the approval of this diagnostic test, information about the genomic sequence of the virus can be obtained from the samples collected by healthcare providers.
The genomic information will then allow scientists to monitor the rate and mechanism of mutation of the virus. It will also allow researchers to understand how the virus may potentially adapt and become resistant to therapies. Furthermore, this sequencing tool will help identify potential targets for therapy, understand the role of coinfection, and analyze the…
