Nationwide quality assurance of high-throughput diagnostic molecular testing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: role of the Belgian National Reference Centre

Reile Janssen; Lize Cuypers; Lies Laenen; Els Keyaerts; Kurt Beuselinck; Sunita Janssenswillen; Bram Slechten; Jannes Bode; Elke Wollants; Kristel Van Laethem; Annabel Rector; Mandy Bloemen; Anke Sijmons; Nathalie de Schaetzen; Arnaud Capron; Kurt Van Baelen; Thierry Pascal; Céline Vermeiren; Fabrice Bureau; Jo Vandesompele; Pieter De Smet; Wouter Uten; Hugues Malonne; Pierre Kerkhofs; Jo De Cock; Veerle Matheeussen; Bruno Verhasselt; Laurent Gillet; Gautier Detry; Bertrand Bearzatto; Jonathan Degosserie; Coralie Henin; Gregor Pairoux; Piet Maes; Marc Van Ranst; Katrien Lagrou; Elisabeth Dequeker; Emmanuel André

doi:10.1186/s12985-024-02308-y

Nationwide quality assurance of high-throughput diagnostic molecular testing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: role of the Belgian National Reference Centre

Reile Janssen, Lize Cuypers, Lies Laenen, Els Keyaerts, Kurt Beuselinck, Sunita Janssenswillen, Bram Slechten, Jannes Bode, Elke Wollants, Kristel Van Laethem, Annabel Rector, Mandy Bloemen, Anke Sijmons, Nathalie de Schaetzen, Arnaud Capron, Kurt Van Baelen, Thierry Pascal, Céline Vermeiren, Fabrice Bureau, Jo VandesompelePieter De Smet, Wouter Uten, Hugues Malonne, Pierre Kerkhofs, Jo De Cock, Veerle Matheeussen, Bruno Verhasselt, Laurent Gillet, Gautier Detry, Bertrand Bearzatto, Jonathan Degosserie, Coralie Henin, Gregor Pairoux, Piet Maes, Marc Van Ranst, Katrien Lagrou, Elisabeth Dequeker, Emmanuel André

Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

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 NRC transitioned from a specialised testing laboratory to strengthening capacity and coordinating quality assurance. Here, we outline the measures taken by the NRC, the national public health institute Sciensano and the executing clinical laboratories to ensure effective quality management of molecular testing throughout the initial two years of the pandemic (March 2020 to March 2022).

Original language	English
Article number	40
Journal	Virology Journal
Volume	21
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-024-02308-y
Publication status	Published - Dec 2024

Funding

UZ/KU Leuven, as National Reference Centre for Respiratory Pathogens, is supported by Sciensano and the Federal Public Service Public Health, which are gratefully acknowledged. The national and federal platform laboratories were compensated for COVID-19 testing by the Federal Public Service Public Health. The sequencing capacity was supported in part by a COVID19 research grant of Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek/Research Foundation Flanders (G0H4420N) granted to P.M. and E.A.. We would like to acknowledge the help of the following individuals for their generous support in time and effort through the COVID-19 pandemic: Ann Verdonck and Ignace Van Hecke (NRC), Bert Vanmechelen, Bram Van Holm, Anne-Sophie Logist, Joan Marti-Carreras, Tony Wawina-Bokalanga, Levi Ysebaert and Jens Verlinden (Rega Institute for Medical Research), Gr\u00E9gory Allard and Thierry Decocq (FOD), Cathy Chandelier, Laurence Lespagnard, Val\u00E9rie Pierard, Laurence Godaert, Catherine Bougelet, Nathalie Houard, Thomas Lion, Karl Walravens and Pascal Mettens (GSK), Jan Hellemans and Pieter Mestdagh (Biogazelle, a CellCarta company), the Quality Service Unit of Sciensano and the Deloitte Centre for Crisis Management. We would like to thank all UCB Pharma team members and especially Martine Geraerts, Maxime Boutier, Catherine Vandenplas, Veerle De Wever, Michel Gillard, Vitalina Gryshkova, B\u00E9n\u00E9dicte Danis, Kris Janssen, Ludovic Staelens, John Smeraglia and Luc Uylenbroek. We would like to thank the members of the COVID-19 Genomics Belgium consortium: Emmanuel Andr\u00E9, Piet Maes, Guy Baele, Simon Dellicour, Lize Cuypers, Marc Van Ranst, Barney Potter, Samuel Hong, Fran\u00E7ois E. Dufrasne, Guillaume Bayon-Vicente, Ruddy Wattiez, Carl Vael, Lynsey Berckmans, Philippe Selhorst, Kevin K. Ari\u00EBn, Arnaud Marchant, Coralie Henin, Benoit Haerlingen, Ricardo De Mendonca, Marie-Luce Delforge, Sonia Van Dooren, Bruno Hinckel, Hideo Imamura, Toon Janssen, Ben Caljon, Oriane Soetens, Denis Pi\u00E9rard, Thomas Demuyser, Charlotte Michel, Olivier Vandenberg, Sigi van den Wijngaert, Giulia Zorzi, Jean Ruelle, Benoit Kabamba Mukadi, Jean-Luc Gala, Bertrand Bearzatto, J\u00E9r\u00F4me Ambroise, Philippe Van Lint, Walter Verstrepen, Reinout Naesens, Michael Peeters, Kate Bakelants, Sarah Denayer, Sofieke Klamer, Pascale Hilbert, Sylvain Broh\u00E9e, Pierre-Emmanuel L\u00E9onard, Deniz Karadurmus, Jeremie Gras, Damien F\u00E9ret, Barbara Lambert, Anne Vankeerberghen, Astrid Holderbeke, Hans De Beenhouwer, Lien Cattoir, Christine Lammens, Basil Britto Xavier, Marie Le Mercier, Jasmine Coppens, Veerle Matheeussen, Herman Goossens, Geert A. Martens, Koen Swaert, Frederik Van Hoecke, Dieter Desmet, Merijn Vanhee, Pierre Bogaerts, Jonathan Degosserie, Olivier Denis, Te-Din Huang, Dagmar Obbels, Hanne Valgaeren, Johan Frans, Annick Smismans, Paul-Emile Claus, Truus Goegebuer, Ann Lemmens, Bea Van den Poel, Sonja De Bock, Wim Laffut, Ellen Van Even, Jos Van Acker, Charlotte Verfaillie, Elke Vanlaere, Klara De Rauw, Brigitte Maes, Guy Froyen, Bert Cruys, Ellen Geerdens, Luc Waumans, Britt Van Meensel, Reinoud Cartuyvels, Severine Berden, Marijke Raymaekers, Bruno Verhasselt, C\u00E9cile Meex, Keith Durkin, Laurent Gillet, Maria Artesi, Marie-Pierre Hayette, S\u00E9bastien Bontems, Vincent Bours, Claire Gourzon\u00E8s, Olivier Ek, Fabrice Bureau, Jorn Hellemans, Patrick Descheemaeker, and Marijke Reynders.

Funders	Funder number
Federal Public Service Public Health
Quality Service Unit of Sciensano
John Smeraglia and Luc Uylenbroek
Deloitte Centre for Crisis Management
Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek/Research Foundation Flanders	G0H4420N
UK Research and Innovation	104204

Keywords

Belgium
COVID-19
High-throughput testing
National reference centre
Quality assurance
SARS-CoV-2

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1186/s12985-024-02308-y

Cite this

Janssen, R., Cuypers, L., Laenen, L., Keyaerts, E., Beuselinck, K., Janssenswillen, S., Slechten, B., Bode, J., Wollants, E., Van Laethem, K., Rector, A., Bloemen, M., Sijmons, A., de Schaetzen, N., Capron, A., Van Baelen, K., Pascal, T., Vermeiren, C., Bureau, F., ... André, E. (2024). Nationwide quality assurance of high-throughput diagnostic molecular testing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: role of the Belgian National Reference Centre. Virology Journal, 21(1), Article 40. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-024-02308-y

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title = "Nationwide quality assurance of high-throughput diagnostic molecular testing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: role of the Belgian National Reference Centre",

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 NRC transitioned from a specialised testing laboratory to strengthening capacity and coordinating quality assurance. Here, we outline the measures taken by the NRC, the national public health institute Sciensano and the executing clinical laboratories to ensure effective quality management of molecular testing throughout the initial two years of the pandemic (March 2020 to March 2022).",

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doi = "10.1186/s12985-024-02308-y",

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Janssen, R, Cuypers, L, Laenen, L, Keyaerts, E, Beuselinck, K, Janssenswillen, S, Slechten, B, Bode, J, Wollants, E, Van Laethem, K, Rector, A, Bloemen, M, Sijmons, A, de Schaetzen, N, Capron, A, Van Baelen, K, Pascal, T, Vermeiren, C, Bureau, F, Vandesompele, J, De Smet, P, Uten, W, Malonne, H, Kerkhofs, P, De Cock, J, Matheeussen, V, Verhasselt, B, Gillet, L, Detry, G, Bearzatto, B, Degosserie, J, Henin, C, Pairoux, G, Maes, P, Van Ranst, M, Lagrou, K, Dequeker, E & André, E 2024, 'Nationwide quality assurance of high-throughput diagnostic molecular testing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: role of the Belgian National Reference Centre', Virology Journal, vol. 21, no. 1, 40. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-024-02308-y

TY - JOUR

T1 - Nationwide quality assurance of high-throughput diagnostic molecular testing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

T2 - role of the Belgian National Reference Centre

AU - Janssen, Reile

AU - Cuypers, Lize

AU - Laenen, Lies

AU - Keyaerts, Els

AU - Beuselinck, Kurt

AU - Janssenswillen, Sunita

AU - Slechten, Bram

AU - Bode, Jannes

AU - Wollants, Elke

AU - Van Laethem, Kristel

AU - Rector, Annabel

AU - Bloemen, Mandy

AU - Sijmons, Anke

AU - de Schaetzen, Nathalie

AU - Capron, Arnaud

AU - Van Baelen, Kurt

AU - Pascal, Thierry

AU - Vermeiren, Céline

AU - Bureau, Fabrice

AU - Vandesompele, Jo

AU - De Smet, Pieter

AU - Uten, Wouter

AU - Malonne, Hugues

AU - Kerkhofs, Pierre

AU - De Cock, Jo

AU - Matheeussen, Veerle

AU - Verhasselt, Bruno

AU - Gillet, Laurent

AU - Detry, Gautier

AU - Bearzatto, Bertrand

AU - Degosserie, Jonathan

AU - Henin, Coralie

AU - Pairoux, Gregor

AU - Maes, Piet

AU - Van Ranst, Marc

AU - Lagrou, Katrien

AU - Dequeker, Elisabeth

AU - André, Emmanuel

PY - 2024/12

Y1 - 2024/12

N2 - 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 NRC transitioned from a specialised testing laboratory to strengthening capacity and coordinating quality assurance. Here, we outline the measures taken by the NRC, the national public health institute Sciensano and the executing clinical laboratories to ensure effective quality management of molecular testing throughout the initial two years of the pandemic (March 2020 to March 2022).

AB - 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 NRC transitioned from a specialised testing laboratory to strengthening capacity and coordinating quality assurance. Here, we outline the measures taken by the NRC, the national public health institute Sciensano and the executing clinical laboratories to ensure effective quality management of molecular testing throughout the initial two years of the pandemic (March 2020 to March 2022).

KW - Belgium

KW - COVID-19

KW - High-throughput testing

KW - National reference centre

KW - Quality assurance

KW - SARS-CoV-2

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85184787302

U2 - 10.1186/s12985-024-02308-y

DO - 10.1186/s12985-024-02308-y

M3 - Review article

C2 - 38341597

AN - SCOPUS:85184787302

VL - 21

JO - Virology Journal

JF - Virology Journal

IS - 1

M1 - 40

ER -

Nationwide quality assurance of high-throughput diagnostic molecular testing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: role of the Belgian National Reference Centre

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

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