While numerous universities around the country have closed due to the ongoing pandemic, the University of Colorado Boulder is distinct in that we have been able to keep our campus open while so many others have struggled.
This success is due in large part to a very efficient Coronavirus monitoring program developed by the BioFrontiers Institute, the bioscience research institute run by the University. The program involves a weekly saliva test mandatory for students living on campus that is also available to any students, faculty and staff.
The saliva test is a monitoring test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Participants prefer this type of test because it is fast and painless; all they have to do is provide a saliva sample in a small test tube. The lab that facilitates this program can handle up to 3,000 samples a day and results are usually available within 24 - 48 hours.
Numerous departments on campus, such as Student Affairs and Environmental Health & Safety, work together to make this testing program possible, providing jobs for students in the process. “Working at COVID monitoring sites has been a very rewarding experience,” says Coby Fan, a sophomore in Aerospace Engineering. “This job has allowed me to help make a positive impact on campus and get to know other people working at the sites.”
Let’s get into the science behind it. The samples are first cooked to near-boiling temperatures to kill the virus, but the RNA is left over. This makes the virus easier to test for and keeps lab workers from getting sick. Once in the lab, the samples are tested for two virus-specific strands of RNA which, thanks to current science, are not hard to obtain. Fluorescence-based detection technology is then used to identify positive samples.
According to Kristen Bjorkman, the University of Colorado Boulder COVID Scientific Director, this type of molecular analysis is not new and has even been used for diagnosing other illnesses such as breast cancer and the flu. Her job is “to serve as a scientific hub with spokes that connect to many campus units.”
“The platform (RT-qPCR) on which this test is based has existed for years both in the research and clinical communities,” Bjorkman says, which means that “we understand it very well and can reprogram it quickly to meet the challenges of new viruses or other clinical testing needs.” RNA and DNA tests are the future of screening for illnesses because they are fast and effective due to advancements in genetic sequencing.
Though no good has come from such a global health threat, Bjorkman feels that “this pandemic has brought scientists together in a collaborative spirit rarely matched in the past.” They are united in working towards one common goal, to stop the spread of Coronavirus, an effort which allows students at our university to continue to benefit from in-person learning and research opportunities. CU Boulder has been in contact with other universities, such as the University of Illinois and Colorado State University, to both give and receive advice on their respective Coronavirus monitoring programs. As always, our responsible Buffs are setting the example and persevering through a difficult situation.