Nationwide quality assurance of high-throughput diagnostic molecular testing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: role of the Belgian National Reference Centre
Health and disease monitoring
Public Access
Published
Authors
Reile Janssen [2]; Lies Laenen [3]; Els Keyaerts [4]; Kurt Beuselinck [5]; Sunita Janssenswillen [6]; Bram Slechten [7]; Jannes Bode [8]; Elke Wollants [9]; Kristel Van Laethem [10]; Annabel Rector [11]; Mandy Bloemen [12]; Anke Sijmons [13]; Nathalie de Schaetzen [14]; Arnaud Capron [15]; Kurt Van Baelen [16]; Thierry Pascal [17]; Céline Vermeiren [18]; Vandesompele, Jo [19]; Pieter De Smet [20]; Wouter Uten [21]; Hugues Malonne [22]; Pierre Kerkhofs [23]; Jo De Cock [24]; Gautier Detry [25]; Gregor Pairoux [26]; Guy Baele [27]; Simon Dellicour [28]; Lize Cuypers [29]; Barney Potter [30]; Samuel Hong [31]; François Dufrasne [32]; Guillaume Bayon-Vicente [33]; Wattiez, Ruddy [34]; Carl Vael [35]; Lynsey Berckmans [36]; Philippe Selhorst [37]; Kevin K. Ariën [38]; Arnaud Marchant [39]; Coralie Henin [40]; Benoit Haerlingen [41]; Ricardo De Mendonca [42]; Delforge, Marie-Luce [43]; Sonia Van Dooren [44]; Bruno Hinckel [45]; Hideo Imamura [46]; Toon Janssen [47]; Ben Caljon [48]; Oriane Soetens [49]; Piérard, Denis [50]; Thomas Demuyser [51]; Charlotte Michel [52]; Vandenberg, Olivier [53]; Van den Wijngaert, Sigi [54]; Giulia Zorzi [55]; Jean Ruelle [56]; Mukadi, Benoit Kabamba [57]; Jean-Luc Gala [58]; Bertrand Bearzatto [59]; Ambroise, Jérôme [60]; Philippe Van Lint [61]; Walter Verstrepen [62]; Reinout Naesens [63]; Michael Peeters [64]; Kate Bakelants [65]; Sarah Denayer [66]; Sofieke Klamer [67]; Pascale Hilbert [68]; Sylvain Brohée [69]; Pierre-Emmanuel Léonard [70]; Deniz Karadurmus [71]; Jeremie Gras [72]; Damien Féret [73]; Barbara Lambert [74]; Vankeerberghen, Anne [75]; Astrid Holderbeke [76]; De Beenhouwer, Hans [77]; Cattoir, Lien [78]; Christine Lammens [79]; Xavier, Basil Britto [80]; Marie Le Mercier [81]; Jasmine Coppens [82]; Veerle Matheeussen [83]; Goossens, Herman [84]; Geert A. Martens [85]; Koen Swaert [86]; Van Hoecke, Frederik [87]; Dieter Desmet [88]; Merijn Vanhee [89]; Bogaerts, Pierre [90]; Jonathan Degosserie [91]; Denis, Olivier [92]; Huang, Te-Din [93]; Dagmar Obbels [94]; Hanne Valgaeren [95]; Frans, Johan [96]; Annick Smismans [97]; Paul-Emile Claus [98]; Truus Goegebuer [99]; Ann Lemmens [100]; Bea Van den Poel [101]; Sonja De Bock [102]; Laffut, Wim [103]; Ellen Van Even [104]; Van Acker, Jos [105]; Charlotte Verfaillie [106]; Elke Vanlaere [107]; De Rauw, Klara [108]; Brigitte Maes [109]; Guy Froyen [110]; Bert Cruys [111]; Ellen Geerdens [112]; Luc Waumans [113]; Britt Van Meensel [114]; Reinoud Cartuyvels [115]; Severine Berden [116]; Marijke Raymaekers [117]; Bruno Verhasselt [118]; Meex, Cécile [119]; Keith Durkin [120]; Gillet, Laurent [121]; Maria Artesi [122]; Marie-Pierre Hayette [123]; Sébastien Bontems [124]; Vincent Bours [125]; Claire Gourzonès [126]; Olivier Ek [127]; Bureau, Fabrice [128]; Jorn Hellemans [129]; Patrick Descheemaeker [130]; Marijke Reynders [131]; Piet Maes [132]; Van Ranst, Marc [133]; Lagrou, Katrien [134]; Elisabeth Dequeker [135]; Emmanuel André [136]Keywords
Abstract:
Since the onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Belgium, UZ/KU Leuven has played a crucial role as the National Reference Centre (NRC) for respiratory pathogens, to be the first Belgian laboratory to develop and implement laboratory developed diagnostic assays for SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) and later to assess the quality of commercial kits. To meet the growing demand for decentralised testing, both clinical laboratories and government-supported high-throughput platforms were gradually deployed across Belgium. Consequently, the role of the…