Marijo Roiko, microbiology program director in Altrus pathology and laboratory services department, and the medical schools Catherine Brissette and Matthew Nilles, associate professors in the biomedical sciences department, have produced a solution to help aid in COVID-19 testing. The solution, known as a viral transport medium, is used to maintain the stability of a clinical specimen from the point of collection to laboratory testing.

After a swab test is administered the swab can be placed in the solution to ensure that the test can be transported or stored long-term, according to Nilles. The liquid medium is also used for other types of clinical testing.

The COVID-19 testing shortfalls the country has experienced go beyond not having enough physical tests, Brissette said. Its also about not having enough swabs or transport solution. The UND-Altru team has produced enough of the solution for more than 1,600 COVID-19 tests.

Across the country, VTM has been in short supply since the COVID-19 outbreak began, Nilles said. However, this partnership between lab scientists at Altru and UND is helping alleviate the shortage in a significant way.

The locally produced solution was developed from reagents available in laboratories at the two institutions. The compound was vetted by quality assurance testing at Altru and the North Dakota Public Health Laboratory.

This medium has supported more than 90% of COVID-19 tests conducted in the Altru service area since April 1, Roiko said in a statement. This has allowed local health care agencies to maintain a steady pace of testing, and additional production of the medium can be ramped up, as needed.

Nilles said the team will continue to produce the transport solution, but likely at a lowered rate as the commercially made solution is becoming more available again.

I think it's going to slow down a little bit, but I think there's a good chance we'll continue with it for a while, he said.

Though health care providers still need to manage shortages of items, including nasal swabs, they are now much less concerned about running out of the transport solution, according to Roiko.

Altru is very grateful for the partnership," she said.

Brissette said the team has been practicing social distancing while working in the lab with each person doing a part in the process, but shes found the experience to be enjoyable.

It's been fun, she said. I think both Matt and I are really happy to be actually doing something that's helping out in this situation. You feel so helpless in a pandemic sometimes, so it's nice that we're able to use our skills and contribute something.

Working together to solve problems, such as these, is an important part of getting through this pandemic, Brissette said.

While lab scientists arent necessarily on the front line of this fight, theyre crucial to helping our nation get through this, Brissette said. And the more institutions can partner on solutions like this, so much the better it will save time, money and, hopefully, lives.

Link:
UND med school, Altru partner to provide testing solution for COVID-19 - Grand Forks Herald