Montana State University research equipment and expertise repurposed to help diagnose, research coronavirus
In the effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus and treat infected patients, special equipment that performs cutting-edge research at Montana State University has been repurposed to help Gallatin County health care providers. Before the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, formally named SARS-CoV-2, a machine in MSU researcher Michelle Flenniken's lab called a qPCR analyzer was used to detect viruses that attack bees and other pollinators around the state. Now it has been temporarily moved to Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital, where the tool can perform up to 60 much-needed COVID-19 tests per day.
"As part of our effort to understand the impact of viruses on honeybee colony losses, we routinely quantify viruses in honeybee samples using qPCR, and the testing process for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in human patient samples isn't all that different. As a virologist, it is nice to meld my lab’s expertise with the expertise at Bozeman Health to work together to provide an important service to the community. Together, we are addressing this pandemic."
Hospitals and health systems around the nation have struggled to procure ready-made COVID-19 test kits due to high demand. Although more labor intensive than the ready-made kits, the tests using the MSU machine have been rigorously tested and give accurate results comparable to those at the state lab in Helena, according to Bozeman Health system manager for laboratory services Doug Smoot.