Wir überwinden Grenzen

New PCR measuring device at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg enables rapid testing of large groups of people and will support the testing strategy in schools and daycare centers in Freiburg and the surrounding area in the future

Ole is as big as a cupboard and extremely helpful: The new PCR analyzer at the Institute for Virology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg is an important building block in the city of Freiburg's coronavirus testing strategy. On Tuesday,June 22, 2021, Prof. Dr. Frederik Wenz, Chief Medical Officer of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, and Lord Mayor Martin Horn inspected the device. Ole, as the large device is affectionately known, can provide early clarity, especially in the case of suspected superspreading events, thanks to its high capacity and rapid processing of samples. After being connected to the city's digital testing structure, it is also used in the city's coronavirus pool testing strategy at schools and daycare centers. The device was financed by the Medical Center - University of Freiburg with the support of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts.

"We are delighted that the successful cooperation between the Medical Center - University of Freiburg and the City of Freiburg in the pool testing procedure has also been recognized as worthy of funding by the Ministry of Science. With Ole, it will also be possible to examine larger groups of people as part of scientific studies," says Wenz. This is an important prerequisite for understanding the spread of the virus even better and taking targeted action against it.

"We are delighted that the Uniklinik is offering another building block in the fight against the pandemic for Freiburg and the region with this new device. It allows us to react quickly to current developments if there is a short-term need for large quantities of PCR tests," says Lord Mayor Martin Horn.

Ole is a fully automated PCR machine that can extract the virus genome from the sample material and immediately perform the PCR test. This significantly simplifies laboratory procedures and enables an even greater throughput of samples. As part of the pool test strategy, PCR tests from around 300 school classes or daycare groups can be tested every day. In addition to the detection of SARS-CoV-2, PCR tests for influenza, HIV and hepatitis B can also be carried out on the device.

Caption: From left to right: Prof. Dr. Marcus Panning, Senior Physician at the Institute for Virology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, explains the sample filling process to Martin Horn, Lord Mayor of the City of Freiburg, and Prof. Dr. Frederik Wenz, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg.
Image source: City of Freiburg / Patrick Seeger