Vergeire: Sequencing for UK variant detection slowed down due to delay in deliveries

The processing of 750 samples per week for the detection of the UK variant of coronavirus among COVID-19 cases was put to stop, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Monday.

At a press conference, Veregire said that the delivery of reagents that will be used in sequencing has been delayed.

“Last week, the reagents that [were] supposed to be delivered for the Philippine Genome Center was kind of delayed. That's why we have this stoppage of 750-capacity,” she said.

“The big machine was put to stop because we do not have enough reagents,” she added.

To continue with the sequencing of samples, the Philippine Genome Center and the UP National Institutes of Health have set up a smaller machine, according to Vergeire.

“It can only run 48 samples per process,” she added.

Vergeire said the supply of reagents already arrived at the Bureau of Customers and that they are now fast-tracking its release.

Aside from the reagents, she said the supply of sequencing kits is expected to arrive by Wednesday or Thursday.

Vergeire said the global shortage in these materials affected their operation.

Due to this, she said they decided to make advance procurement on the supply for six months. — RSJ, GMA News