To the Editor: Molecular diagnostics with whole genome sequencing (WGS) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has been well described as a method to monitor the evolving epidemiology of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic and coordinate public health responses.1,2 WGS allows for the accurate identification of COVID‐19 variants, which, when combined with accessible diagnostic testing with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid antigen tests, supports contact tracing and public health action.1,2 Since January 2022, by agreement with the Forensic and Scientific Services reference laboratory, it has been our practice at the Prince Charles Hospital — a tertiary cardiothoracic transplant centre in Brisbane — to sequence all SARS‐CoV‐2 samples of patients requiring hospital admission for COVID‐19. The rapid turnaround times, averaging 36 hours, supported decisions on variant‐specific therapeutics and optimised bed management.
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- 1. Seemann T, Lane CR, Sherry NL, et al. Tracking the COVID‐19 pandemic in Australia using genomics. Nat Commun 2020; 11: 4376.
- 2. Communicable Diseases Genomics Network. CDGN, PHLN and CDNA sampling strategy for SARS‐CoV‐2 genomic surveillance. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health, 2021. https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/cdgn‐phln‐and‐cdna‐sampling‐strategy‐for‐sars‐cov‐2‐genomic‐surveillance (viewed Mar 2022).
- 3. Jones C. Queensland records 15pc rise in COVID‐19 cases in a week, majority identified as highly infectious BA.2 Omicron sub‐variant. ABC News 2022; 22 Mar. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022‐03‐22/qld‐coronavirus‐covid19‐jump‐sub‐variant‐ba2‐cases‐vaccination/100840904 (viewed Mar 2022).
- 4. Cheng VCC, Ip JD, Chu AWH, et al. Rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) Omicron subvariant BA.2 in a single‐source community outbreak. Clin Infect Dis 2022; 75: e44‐e49.
- 5. Australian Government Department of Health. Implementation plan for the National Microbial Genomics Framework 2021–2022. https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/02/implementation‐plan‐for‐the‐national‐microbial‐genomics‐framework‐2021‐2022.pdf (viewed Mar 2022).
We thank the Pathology Queensland Laboratories for performing the initial PCR detection for SARS‐CoV‐2 and referral of samples to the Forensic and Scientific Services for sequencing. We also like to thank and acknowledge the Public Health Virology and Microbiology Laboratory and Q‐PHIRE Genomics staff at Forensic and Scientific Services for SARS‐CoV‐2 sequencing.
No relevant disclosures.