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The Ion Chef robotic system for automating virus nucleic acid sequencing processes was purchased by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine with the support of the World Bank as part of the project “Improving Health in the Service of People” in cooperation with WHO. The state-of-the-art device installed in the reference laboratory of virological research of the Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine provides automation of sequencing processes of a new generation and makes it possible to obtain high-precision research results in a shorter time of the laboratory process.

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

“We increase the ability to detect new strains of coronavirus and other viruses in Ukraine, provide constant genomic epidemiological surveillance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and thus strengthen national capabilities to prevent the spread of dangerous diseases,” said Deputy Minister of Health, Chief State Sanitary doctor of Ukraine Ihor Kuzin.

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

New equipment, as well as the availability of all necessary reagents and consumables, allows Ukrainian specialists to constantly perform full-genome sequencing 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 long stages, including the preparation of libraries (obtaining and labeling target sequences of high-quality nucleic acids and the required length of fragments), emulsion polymerase chain reaction, sphere enrichment, and chip loading for sequencing.