Update 3/14/2022
The state has lifted the temporary reduction in sequencing sample submission. Facilities should resume submission of their first 10 samples each week to the State Hygienic Laboratory for surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Update 09/01/2021
The Iowa Department of Public Health has authorized a temporary reduction in the submission of sequencing samples for clinical facilities experiencing case surges. Facilities should submit the first 5 positive specimens per week, at minimum. As case volumes become more manageable for clinical facilities, the state will return to mandatory submission of all positive samples for sequencing.
Order Sequencing
To order sequencing, please use SHL’s “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Sequencing" Test Request Form which is found on SHL’s website. Submit positive samples with a Ct value less than 28. If the Ct value is unknown, submit the sample and SHL will determine the Ct value before performing the sequencing.
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Original Article Published 7-6-2021
Mutations are changes in the genetic code of a virus and naturally occur over time. The need to monitor the mutations in circulating SARS-CoV-2 is an important public health responsibility. Sequencing SARS-CoV-2 genomes identifies mutations that lead to identified variants. This improves our understanding of the variants that are circulating in Iowa, how quickly variants emerge, and which variants are the most important to monitor for the health of Iowans. Many mutations do not affect the virus’s ability to spread or cause disease because they do not alter the major proteins involved in infection. CDC has identified some of these mutations as “variant viruses of concern” because they spread more easily, cause more severe disease, or may escape the body’s immune response.
Since January 2021, the State Hygienic Laboratory (SHL) has increased capacity to sequence SARS-CoV-2 and will now accept all PCR positive SARS-CoV-2 samples for sequencing. This will provide IDPH with much more information about the variants that are circulating in Iowa at this time and into the future. While over 1,700 SARS-CoV-2 samples have been sequenced thus far, declining utilization of testing makes it even more important to perform sequencing on all positive samples to determine if new variants are emerging. Submitting samples to sequence depends on the cooperation of all laboratories in Iowa.
If your laboratory has remaining samples that have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and the Ct value is less than 30, please submit the sample to SHL. If the Ct value is unknown, submit the sample and SHL will determine the Ct value before performing the sequencing.
To order sequencing, please use SHL’s “Coronavirus (COVID-19) Sequencing" Test Request Form which is found on SHL’s website.
IDPH and SHL wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the clinical laboratory community for their support throughout the pandemic. SHL will include a summary of state-wide sequencing trends in our weekly updates to clinical labs.