tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Emerg Infect Dis
. 2025 May;31(13):61-69.
doi: 10.3201/eid3113.241192.
SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Surveillance from Community-Distributed Rapid Antigen Tests, Wisconsin, USA
Isla E Emmen, William C Vuyk, Andrew J Lail, Sydney Wolf, Eli J O'Connor, Rhea Dalvie, Maansi Bhasin, Aanya Virdi, Caroline White, Nura R Hassan, Alex Richardson, Grace VanSleet, Andrea Weiler, Savannah Rounds-Dunn, Kenneth Van Horn, Marc Gartler, Jane Jorgenson, Michael Spelman, Sean Ottosen, Nicholas R Minor, Nancy Wilson, Thomas C Friedrich, David H O'Connor
In the United States, SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance initially relied almost entirely on residual diagnostic specimens from nucleic acid amplification-based tests. However, use of those tests waned after the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023. In Dane County, Wisconsin, we partnered with local- and state-level public health agencies and the South Central Library System to continue genomic surveillance by obtaining SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences from freely available community rapid antigen tests (RATs). During August 15, 2023-February 29, 2024, we received 227 RAT samples, from which we generated 127 sequences with >10× depth of coverage for >90% of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. In a subset of tests, lower cycle threshold values correlated with sequence success. Our results demonstrated that collecting and sequencing results from RATs in partnership with community sites is a practical approach for sustaining SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance.
Keywords: COVID-19; RNA; SARS; SARS-CoV-2; United States; Wisconsin; coronavirus; coronavirus disease; public health; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses.
. 2025 May;31(13):61-69.
doi: 10.3201/eid3113.241192.
SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Surveillance from Community-Distributed Rapid Antigen Tests, Wisconsin, USA
Isla E Emmen, William C Vuyk, Andrew J Lail, Sydney Wolf, Eli J O'Connor, Rhea Dalvie, Maansi Bhasin, Aanya Virdi, Caroline White, Nura R Hassan, Alex Richardson, Grace VanSleet, Andrea Weiler, Savannah Rounds-Dunn, Kenneth Van Horn, Marc Gartler, Jane Jorgenson, Michael Spelman, Sean Ottosen, Nicholas R Minor, Nancy Wilson, Thomas C Friedrich, David H O'Connor
- PMID: 40359069
- DOI: 10.3201/eid3113.241192
In the United States, SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance initially relied almost entirely on residual diagnostic specimens from nucleic acid amplification-based tests. However, use of those tests waned after the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023. In Dane County, Wisconsin, we partnered with local- and state-level public health agencies and the South Central Library System to continue genomic surveillance by obtaining SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences from freely available community rapid antigen tests (RATs). During August 15, 2023-February 29, 2024, we received 227 RAT samples, from which we generated 127 sequences with >10× depth of coverage for >90% of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. In a subset of tests, lower cycle threshold values correlated with sequence success. Our results demonstrated that collecting and sequencing results from RATs in partnership with community sites is a practical approach for sustaining SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance.
Keywords: COVID-19; RNA; SARS; SARS-CoV-2; United States; Wisconsin; coronavirus; coronavirus disease; public health; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses.