APHL 2022 POSTER ABSTRACTS
collaborate on projects and develop a community of practice to encourage relationship building , on-going communication and collaboration amongst sectors . APHL ’ s Global Health Program and domestic Training and Workforce Development Program will also collaborate to transform GLLP modules into eLearning sessions to support APHL ’ s domestic workforce development goals . As laboratories navigate the ever-changing challenges ahead , multisectoral communication and collaboration will be key to success and the GLLP will provide laboratory leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to support a One Health approach to laboratory system building .
( 1 ) https :// www . who . int / news / item / 01-12-2021-tripartite-andunep-support-ohhlep-s-definition-of-one-health
Presenter : Shannon Emery , Association of Public Health Laboratories , shannon . emery @ aphl . org with 70 % of 37 MG + samples being coinfected . Seventeen of 26 ( 65 %) were coinfected with CT . Out of 348 total clinical samples that produced a result for all 4 targets , 14 % were coinfected with at least 2 STIs . This study explored the utility of consolidating a multi-plex STI assay on a single platform and collection device in a high-throughput reference lab . The Alinity m STI IUO assay showed good concordance with comparator platforms across sample types and targets . Moreover , Alinity m STI IUO assay multi-plex design enabled the simultaneous identification of coinfections across all four targets , which is not possible using our current testing platforms . Finally , the Alinity m STI IUO assay ’ s ability to selectively detect any of the four targets also supports current CDC guidelines recommending testing specific populations for MG as well as opt out screening of females < 25 y / o . for CT / NG .
Presenter : Katherine Lundgren , Alverno Labs , katherine . lundgren @ alvernolabs . com
Global Heralth / Infectious Diseases
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Multi-Plex STI Testing & Co-infection Prevalence at a Reference Laboratory
K Lundgren 1 , K Calvert 1 , W Crown 2 ; 1 Alverno Laboratories , 2 Abbott Laboratories
The Abbott Alinity m STI Investigation Use Only ( IUO ) assay is a qualitative PCR test that simultaneously detects C . trachomatis ( CT ), N . gonorrhoeae ( NG ), T . vaginalis ( TV ) and M . genitalium ( MG ) from a single sample , allowing labs to consolidate molecular-based STI testing on a single , fully automated , random-access platform . In this study , we compared the performance of the Alinity m STI IUO assay to the predicate methodology across multiple sample types in a large reference laboratory . Tested in this study were derived samples and clinical samples previously characterized via Abbott RealTime CT / NG assay on the m2000 platform ( 394 & 391 , respectively ) and 220 TV samples using Cepheid Xpert TV assay or wet mount in the following samples : urine , cervix / vagina , rectum , urethra , throat and ThinPrep . No reference MG testing was performed . Of 394 CT samples , 154 were positive on both m2000 and Alinity m , with percent positive agreement ( PPA ) 93 %, negative percent agreement ( NPA ) 99 % and overall percent agreement ( OPA ) 96 %. Of 391 NG samples 89 were positive on m2000 and Alinity m , PPA ( 99 %), NPA ( 100 %), OPA ( 100 %). Of 220 TV samples , 73 were concordant on Cepheid and Alinity m , PPA ( 95 %), NPA ( 99 %), OPA ( 97 %). Although there is no method comparison for MG , of 399 samples , 87 were positive across sample types . Out of 1,404 total results across all targets and sample types , 21 were discordant . Although CT PPA was
< 95 %, this is likely attributable to freeze / thaw cycles and the stability of Alinity m RNA targets when stored in m2000 collection device media , which preferentially stabilizes the RealTime STI assay DNA targets . Also evaluated was the incidence of coinfection on the Alinity m . Percent coinfection was calculated from clinical samples only based on total detected results for each target with one or more additional pathogens detected . Thirty-nine percent of 109 CT + samples , 53 % of 40 NG + samples and 44 % of 36 TV + samples were coinfected . MG coinfection was the highest observed ,
Hepatitis A Whole Genome Sequencing Using IonS5TM AmpliSeqTM Technology for Enhanced Outbreak Analysis
N Cleary , P Bryant , D Lamson and K St . George , Wadsworth Center , New York State Department of Health
Hepatitis A incidence has been increasing in the United States in general and New York State specifically from 2015 – 2019 , with endemic transmission and outbreaks since mid-2019 . These outbreaks have been largely comprised of individuals with risk factors such as intravenous-drug use , persons experiencing homelessness and men who have sex with men . A vaccinepreventable liver disease , hepatitis A is usually a self-limited disease-causing mild symptoms but can be severe or fatal , especially in susceptible populations . Of the six genotypes that infect humans , three are circulating in the United States ( IA , IB and IIIA ). Currently at the Wadsworth Center , Sanger sequencing of a 315nt section of the VP1 / 2A region is used for hepatitis A genotyping . To generate hepatitis A whole genome sequences ( WGS ), a custom Ion AmpliseqTM panel was designed in collaboration with the White Glove Team at Thermo Fisher and validated at the Wadsworth Center . Using the AmpliseqTM panel , a total of 132 near whole genome sequences (~ 7360nt ) were generated on hepatitis A samples at Wadsworth . Two gaps at positions 3,925 and 4,931bp , approximately 21bp and 9bp respectively , were filled using Sanger sequencing . The samples had previously tested positive on a real-time RT-PCR detection assay and were collected between February 2019 and November 2021 from residents of NYS ( 125 ), Florida ( 1 ), Pennsylvania ( 1 ) and Virginia ( 5 ). They included specimens with genotypes IB ( 102 ), IA ( 28 ) and IIIA ( 2 ). Phylogenetic trees generated with data from the two methods showed that the AmpliseqTM panel provided greater resolution compared to that achieved with the current Sanger genotyping method .
WGS analysis offers greater resolution for enhanced outbreak analysis and infection control .
Presenter : Nora Cleary , Wadsworth Center , New York State Department of Health , noragcleary @ gmail . com
Whole Genome Sequencing ( WGS ) of Carbapenem- Resistant Organisms that are PCR negative for Major