On 10 August 2021, China’s National Health Commission issued the Notice on Further Strengthening the Organisation and Management of Nucleic Acid Testing for All Staff in response to COVID-19 prevention and control measures. The notice requires that COVID-19 testing for up to 5 million people be completed within two days.
Automation enabling large-scale testing
“Science and technology are a primary productive force,” said Lin Siyuan, Director of Mobile Lab at MGI.
“We have significantly upgraded the performance of our automation equipment and accumulated extensive frontline experience, making it possible to provide urgent support for large-scale nucleic acid testing.”
According to Lin Siyuan, completing 5 million tests within two days using pooled testing (10 mixed samples per tube) would require 42 MGISTP-7000 High-throughput Automated Sample Transfer Processing Systems, 25 MGISP-NE384 High-throughput Automated Nucleic Acid Extractors and 13 MGISP-960 High-throughput Automated Sample Preparation Systems working together.
How the automated workflow operates
The process begins once samples are unpacked. The MGISTP-7000 can transfer up to 192 samples from airtight or plain sample tubes to 96-well microplates within 40 minutes. During this process, it automatically performs tube uncapping, barcode identification, automated liquid transfer and tube recapping.
After transfer, samples are loaded onto the MGISP-NE384 for RNA extraction. The MGISP-NE384 is a high-throughput automated nucleic acid extractor capable of processing up to 10,000 samples per day per unit, significantly increasing testing capacity.
Following RNA extraction, samples are transferred to the MGISP-960 to prepare for PCR testing. The MGISP-960 automatically configures the fluorescence quantitative PCR reaction system and delivers test-ready samples.
Supporting frontline outbreak response
MGI Container Labs and automation systems have been deployed to support testing capacity across China.
On 9 August, an MGI Container Lab and automation equipment were delivered to Jingmen in Hubei Province. On 10 August, six technicians from Wuhan University People’s Hospital assisted local teams in carrying out large-scale nucleic acid testing.
“MGI automation systems can operate 24 hours a day, simplifying the most labour-intensive and time-consuming procedures in testing laboratories,” said Lin Siyuan. “One technician can operate three systems simultaneously, greatly improving testing efficiency.”
Improving safety and efficiency in laboratories
Large-scale nucleic acid testing places significant demands on laboratory staff. Conventional sample transfer processes after viral inactivation require extensive manual handling, which can slow down testing and increase infection risk.
Automation helps address these challenges by reducing manual intervention and improving processing speed. This is particularly important when laboratories must process hundreds of thousands or even millions of samples in a short period of time.
“MGI automation equipment has supported multiple large-scale testing efforts during China’s nationwide COVID-19 response,” said Li Jing, Vice Director of the Products R&D Department at MGI. “Our R&D and product teams are committed to solving real-world challenges through scientific and technological innovation.”
Strengthening testing capacity nationwide
MGI has also supported upgrades to laboratory facilities, including improvements to the testing laboratory at the Xinbei Center for Disease Control in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, helping increase local detection capacity.
To date, MGI automation systems have supported nucleic acid testing programmes in more than 24 cities and regions across China.
In response to sudden outbreaks, Li Jing and his team regularly travel to frontline locations to provide technical support and further improve system performance.
For example, the MGISTP-7000 can automatically perform tube uncapping, barcode identification, sample dispatching and tube recapping with a single click, requiring only manual placement of samples. The team also improved sample tube compatibility so the system can work with multiple tube types commonly used in frontline laboratories.
“We are committed to continuously upgrading our innovative platforms to standardise diagnostic testing laboratories with higher data capacity and automation for large-scale nucleic acid detection,” said Li Jing.
MGI mobile nucleic acid testing platforms, including container laboratories and vehicle-mounted labs, have supported outbreak response efforts in more than 30 cities and regions across China, including Jiangsu, Hunan, Wuhan, Hainan, Henan and Ruili.
