New molecular diagnostics laboratory
The Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences has just opened a publicly accessible molecular genetics laboratory in Poznań – PANgen. Currently, its activity is focused on research targeting the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Viral Support Group
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Institute’s team including laboratory diagnosticians and molecular biology experts has been actively involved in the fight against coronavirus. Using its knowledge, experience and specialized equipment, the Institute has established the Viral Support Group. The group of volunteer scientists offered help to Provincial Sanitary Inspectorate by bringing quality COVID-19 testing to patients across Wielkopolska region. Between March to May 2020, the Institute’s researchers carried out nearly 6,000 molecular diagnostic tests.
To meet the social expectations scientists decided to put their knowledge and skills into practice and make it available to the whole society. As a result, PANgen – a publicly accessible molecular genetics laboratory – came into being.
“From the very beginning the Viral Support Group has received numerous requests for testing. The idea of establishing PANgen laboratory was born in response to these requests. Now, we are finally able to fulfill our mission" – says Dr. Elżbieta Lenartowicz, head of the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Viral Support Group.
PANlab mission
The laboratory offers diagnostic tests for detecting the SARS-CoV-2 and flu viruses (MediPAN tests developed at the PAS Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry) as well as IgG or IgM antibodies test. In the near future, the offer will be expanded to include testing for Lyme disease (serological and PCR tests, as well as tick testing for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi using RT-PCR technique). The demand for the diagnosis of Lyme disease increases with the number of reported cases and infected ticks. The laboratory’s offer will be gradually increased to meet the needs of the society.
More information on the new laboratory is available at https://www.pangen.pl/
Source of information and photos: PAS Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry
