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Review
. 2024 Feb 10;21(1):40.
doi: 10.1186/s12985-024-02308-y.

Nationwide quality assurance of high-throughput diagnostic molecular testing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: role of the Belgian National Reference Centre

Reile Janssen #  1 , Lize Cuypers #  2   3 , Lies Laenen #  2   3 , Els Keyaerts  2   3 , Kurt Beuselinck  2 , Sunita Janssenswillen  4 , Bram Slechten  4 , Jannes Bode  2 , Elke Wollants  5 , Kristel Van Laethem  5 , Annabel Rector  5 , Mandy Bloemen  5 , Anke Sijmons  2 , Nathalie de Schaetzen  2 , Arnaud Capron  6 , Kurt Van Baelen  7 , Thierry Pascal  8 , Céline Vermeiren  9 , Fabrice Bureau  10 , Jo Vandesompele  11 , Pieter De Smet  12 , Wouter Uten  13 , Hugues Malonne  14   15   16 , Pierre Kerkhofs  17 , Jo De Cock  18 , Veerle Matheeussen  19 , Bruno Verhasselt  20 , Laurent Gillet  21 , Gautier Detry  22 , Bertrand Bearzatto  23 , Jonathan Degosserie  24 , Coralie Henin  25 , Gregor Pairoux  6 ; COVID-19 Genomics Belgium Consortium; Piet Maes  5 , Marc Van Ranst  2   5 , Katrien Lagrou  2   3 , Elisabeth Dequeker  2   26 , Emmanuel André  2   3
Collaborators, Affiliations
Review

Nationwide quality assurance of high-throughput diagnostic molecular testing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: role of the Belgian National Reference Centre

Reile Janssen et al. Virol J. .

Abstract

Since the onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Belgium, UZ/KU Leuven has played a crucial role as the National Reference Centre (NRC) for respiratory pathogens, to be the first Belgian laboratory to develop and implement laboratory developed diagnostic assays for SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) and later to assess the quality of commercial kits. To meet the growing demand for decentralised testing, both clinical laboratories and government-supported high-throughput platforms were gradually deployed across Belgium. Consequently, the role of the NRC transitioned from a specialised testing laboratory to strengthening capacity and coordinating quality assurance. Here, we outline the measures taken by the NRC, the national public health institute Sciensano and the executing clinical laboratories to ensure effective quality management of molecular testing throughout the initial two years of the pandemic (March 2020 to March 2022).

Keywords: Belgium; COVID-19; High-throughput testing; National reference centre; Quality assurance; SARS-CoV-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

T.P. is an employee of the GSK group of companies and reports ownership of GSK shares. C.V. is an employee of UCB Pharma and reports ownership of company shares. The other authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Evolution of Belgian laboratories recognised in 2020 to perform SARS-CoV-2 PCR-testing. Up until week 8, solely the NRC conducted COVID-19 tests. The Belgian testing capacity expanded gradually from March 1, 2020 on, as clinical laboratories were granted permission by Sciensano to initiate diagnostic testing. By the end of the year, 107 laboratories were performing SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Weekly number of SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests performed in Belgium during the first two years of the pandemic, associated with the positivity rate. Up until week 8, PCR tests were only performed in the clinical laboratory of the NRC, after which other clinical laboratories were granted permission to perform PCR tests (see Fig. 1). In week 15, the national testing platform was founded to support the clinical laboratories, this initiative was replaced by the federal testing platform from October 2020 on
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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