Please note the following pillar 2 visits are fully booked:
Visits on 20th: Milton Keynes, Leamington Spa, Newport, London
Visits on 27th: Leamington Spa, London.
These educational visits are being organised by NHS Test and Trace in collaboration with the Royal College of Pathologists for medical and scientist trainees in microbiology and virology, biomedical scientists, consultant microbiologists and consultant virologists, public health teams and DHSC civil service, offering a unique opportunity to tour Pillar 2 SARS-CoV-2 RNA mass Lighthouse Laboratories in the UK.
Who should attend?
Medical and scientist trainees in microbiology and virology
Biomedical scientists
Consultant microbiologists and consultant virologists
Public health teams
Specialty and Associate Specialist (SAS) doctors’
DHSC civil service
Topics covered
|
Detail |
Learning point(s) |
1 |
Introduction to history of Lighthouse Laboratory |
Pandemic response and urgency |
2 |
IT and dashboards |
Setting up: from patient request to result availability |
3 |
Construction |
Planning and construction |
4 |
Logistics |
Equipment and reagent procurement and transport |
5 |
Specimen reception |
Sample receipt and debagging (triage for initial manual vs automated process routes, identifying deviating samples, leaks, no barcode etc) |
6 |
Sample preparation |
Sample transfer to lysis plates (use of automation for consistency and supporting high sample throughput, reducing operator error, including contamination): manual and automated |
7 |
RNA extraction process |
Using semi-automated and automated platforms |
8 |
PCR plate preparation |
Using automated platforms |
9 |
PCR room |
PCR analysers, channels |
10 |
In Milton Keynes and Leamington Spa: EPCR setup Nexar, Hydrocycler and Araya |
Principles of EPCR, automation |
11 |
Software for analysis |
PCR curve or end-point signal analysis interpretation and reporting of results (include QC, QA reporting)
Machine learning software if used |
12 |
VOC testing (if available locally) |
Principles and algorithm |
13 |
Sequencing (if available locally) |
Principles and output |