June 5, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

UCLA Health to Use Faster COVID-19 Test

SwabSeq testing platform to be rolled out after FDA approval

Scientists at UCLA Health will soon be using a new coronavirus testing technology capable of assessing thousands of individual samples for COVID-19 simultaneously and producing accurate results in 12 to 24 hours.

The SwabSeq testing platform, developed collaboratively by UCLA researchers and a UCLA-founded startup, is quicker and less expensive than the widely used polymerase chain reaction method, which requires extracting RNA from samples and can take days to process, the scientists said.

“This is a technological breakthrough that will dramatically increase the amount of COVID-19 testing while reducing the wait time for results and costs,” said Dr. John Mazziotta, vice chancellor for UCLA Health Sciences and CEO of UCLA Health.

SwabSeq takes a person’s saliva and attaches a type of molecular “bar code” to each sample, allowing scientists to combine large batches of samples together in a sequencing machine and rapidly identify those that have the virus. The testing method, which received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Oct. 6, can also be applied to nasal and oral COVID-19 testing samples and can be scaled up easily, according to the researchers.

“SwabSeq is highly scalable because it leverages two decades of advances in genomic sequencing technology,” said Eleazar Eskin, chair of UCLA’s Department of Computational Medicine, who was part of the research team that the developed the new platform. “Using SwabSeq, a relatively small lab can process tens of thousands of samples per day.”

The UCLA scientists have been leading a coalition of academic and industrial labs around the country and the world in developing the technology and scaling up testing.

“UCLA has been at the forefront of taking SwabSeq from an initial technology to validating its use in large-scale testing of real patients,” said Sriram Kosuri, a UCLA assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry and co-founder and CEO of the startup Octant, which created the technology on which SwabSeq is based. “We jump-started a whole community of researchers now using the technique to help bring people back to work and school.”

<>Related Posts

Fogo de Chão Unveils Fiery Off-Menu Cocktail, the Paper Flame

June 5, 2025

June 5, 2025

Tequila-Based Drink Features a Dramatic Tableside Presentation Fogo de Chão has unveiled its first-ever secret cocktail, the Paper Flame, an off-menu specialty...

Palisades Restaurants to be Supported at Westside Benefit This Weekend

June 5, 2025

June 5, 2025

Local vendors, many impacted by the fires, will have booths with all vendor fees waived, and proceeds from on-site sales...

(Video) See How CO2 Laser Treatment Removes Wrinkles and Scars

June 5, 2025

June 5, 2025

To Book an Appointment, Go to Mirrormirrormedspa.com To Book an Appointment, Go to https://t.co/T2Rxg30Z1N pic.twitter.com/52vzQMmHJZ — Santa Monica Mirror (@SMMirror)...

(Video) Sea Lions Return to Ocean as LA’s Toxic Algae Crisis Ends

June 5, 2025

June 5, 2025

The crisis led to dead dolphins and sea lions washing ashore in Venice and Santa Monica in recent months The...

Film Review: Dangerous Animals

June 4, 2025

June 4, 2025

By Dolores Quintana There’s nothing quite like a good shark horror movie, especially since we are heading into summer. With...

Marelle Launches ‘The Guest List’ With Renowned Chefs and Friends Alan Wong and Raphael Lunetta

June 4, 2025

June 4, 2025

Santa Monica’s New Chef Series Debuts With a Culinary Celebration of California and Hawaiian Flavors Marelle, a coastal dining destination...

SMPD Respond to Bomb Threat Hoax at Donald Douglas Loop

June 4, 2025

June 4, 2025

No individual matching the caller’s description was found, and a search of the area revealed no suspicious devices Santa Monica...

Tenants Sought for Former Rusty’s Surf Ranch Space on Santa Monica Pier

June 4, 2025

June 4, 2025

4,112-Square-Foot Retail Space with Commercial Kitchen and Oceanfront Patios Awaits New Operator A 4,112-square-foot retail space at 256 Santa Monica...

Venice Beach Tapped to Host Paralympic Events in 2028 Games

June 4, 2025

June 4, 2025

The coastal neighborhood, already set to host triathlon, marathon, and road cycling starts for the 2028 Olympics, will showcase Paralympic...

(Video) Some of the Damage Caused By Vandals at Malibu High School Overnight

June 4, 2025

June 4, 2025

40 to 50 people, who are suspected to be students or recent alumni, used eggs, flour, and markers to deface...

Biggest Night of the Year: Don’t Miss GMCLA’s ‘Dancing Queens’

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

Culminating its 46th season, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles will grace the crowd with Dancing Queens, celebrating iconic...

Khatri International: Consider Rebuilding With Fire Resistant Construction Methods

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

What do office buildings, hospitals, schools, fire and police stations have in common? They are built with noncombustible construction methods...

Orchestra Santa Monica Extends Music Director’s Tenure Through 2030

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

Under his leadership, the orchestra has delivered a series of sold-out concerts, earning praise for his conducting skills Orchestra Santa...

Malibu High Targeted in Overnight Vandalism Spree; Investigation Underway

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

Destruction on Campus Prompts Sheriff’s Probe; Students Will Face Charges Vandals caused extensive damage to the school property of Malibu...

Project Aims to Preserve Palisades Fire Chimneys as Memorial

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

The proposed Palisades Fire Memorial, to be located on public land, will feature free-standing fireplaces and chimneys as a tribute...