Ministry of Health purchases equipment to automate sequencing processes with support of World Bank and in cooperation with WHO

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine, with the support of the World Bank under the Serving People, Improving Health project and in cooperation with the WHO, has purchased the Ion Chef robotic system for automating the sequencing of viral nucleic acids. The modern device, installed in the reference laboratory of virological research at the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, provides automation of new generation sequencing processes and makes it possible to obtain highly accurate research results within a shorter laboratory process.

The equipment and reagents were purchased and delivered to Ukraine in partnership with the World Health Organization.

“We are increasing the capacity to detect new strains of coronavirus and other viruses in Ukraine, ensuring ongoing genomic epidemiological surveillance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and thus strengthening national capacities to prevent the spread of dangerous diseases,” said Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Health and Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine.

The project also procured more than 50 reagents and consumables for sequencing 4,000 SARS-CoV-2 samples. In particular, the list of purchased materials includes: 55 kits for preparing libraries of viral genome samples, 77 kits for reverse transcription, 17 kits for sequencing, and 128 chips.

The new equipment, as well as the availability of all the necessary reagents and consumables, allows Ukrainian specialists to perform whole-genome sequencing on a regular basis and detect the absence or presence of genomic mutations of the virus.

Next-generation sequencing is a modern but complex research method that consists of many lengthy stages, including library preparation (obtaining and labeling target nucleic acid sequences of high quality and required fragment length), emulsion polymerase chain reaction, sphere enrichment, and loading the sequencing chip.