Laboratory Readiness and genomic surveillance of Covid-19 in the Capital of Brazil

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveAnalyze the diagnostic readiness to Covid-19 and the genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Brasília, the capital of Brazil.MethodRetrospective, cross-sectional study, with data from: cases/deaths - Ministry of Health; RT-PCR analyzes Brasília Central Public Health Laboratory (LACEN); genomics - Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID).ResultsIn March 2021, with the Gamma variant being predominant, RT-PCR dosages by LACEN reached their peak, followed by a reduction, possibly due to the start of vaccination. New peaks were observed in September 2021 and January 2022. The average time for releasing RT-PCR results was reduced from eight days (July 2020), to around eight hours in 2023. The participation of private laboratories was evident in sequencing the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in Brasília (n=1,897). LACEN received 571 samples, sequencing 50%. A decrease in the incidence of cases and deaths due to Covid-19 was noted in the years 2022 to 2023, following the national trend.ConclusionLACEN maintained RT-PCR dosages satisfactorily throughout the period. Regarding the genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2, the vast majority of samples were sequenced by private laboratories and the sequencing predicted by LACEN was not covered in its entirety.