As part of its ‘Hera Incubator’ initiative (see EUROPE 12660/1), the European Commission promised Member States guidance on sequencing procedures for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) published a series of recommendations on Monday 3 May.
“Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 is essential to detect, monitor and assess virus variants," the ECDC said, stressing that such surveillance requires “a well-defined sampling and sequencing strategy to ensure representativeness and reliability of results”.
The document prepared by the ECDC therefore offers “practical advice” to Member States on the subject. In particular, it recommends two complementary approaches to sample collection: representative sampling of RT-PCR positive SARS-CoV-2 cases - i.e. those detected in routine surveillance - on the one hand, and targeted sampling of SARS-CoV-2 positive cases occurring in special settings or populations on the other.
The ECDC provides information on the number of samples to be sequenced, sample sizes, and options for selecting samples.
With regard to sampling of cases occurring in particular settings and populations, it recommends, in particular, comprehensive sampling in the case of vaccine breakthrough reinfections or in the case of infection of persons with a history of travel to areas where the variants are endemic.
The Commission hopes that the follow-up of these guidelines by the States will allow for compatibility of sequencing procedures across the EU and for rapid data exchange.
To consult the document: https://bit.ly/3umk7LH (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)