Faster PCR, Less Hassle: How One Lab Transformed Their Workflow

The Challenge

When demand for respiratory PCR testing surged, one reference lab supporting over 20 large-scale clients hit a familiar roadblock: their time-consuming manual assay prep, suboptimal instrumentation, and an inability to respond to fluctuating test volumes meant they couldn’t scale efficiently. 

They were in search of a solution that wouldn’t demand a complete overhaul of their systems or introduce unnecessary complexity, and that meant needing better tools and the right team to make them fit seamlessly into their workflows.

The Solution

This lab partnered with Molecular Designs and Streamline Scientific to make improvements to their PCR platform:

• Molecular Designs’ Simplicity^TM line of preplated, breakaway respiratory panels cut prep 
  time and reduced waste.
• The Simplicity^TM Dx extraction system helped them hit 30-minute processing times
• Access to instrumentation through ThermoFisher, with validation support enabling quick
  expansion
• Expert troubleshooting helped resolve third-party vendor issues without the need to replace key equipment
• Improved product quality through GMP-compliant manufacturing and ISO 13485:2016
  certification, supporting consistency and reliability
• Consulting guidance helped align panel usage with demand and prep the client for COLA inspection
• A forward-looking roadmap for future panel selection positioned the lab to grow with
  confidence

What Happened Next

The lab’s low-friction adoption of new systems meant they were able to increase testing capacity while also simplifying inventory management and speeding up turnaround times. What’s more, the team gained confidence knowing their system could grow with them and respond flexibly to testing volume variations.

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