In June, Nashville-based PathGroup, one of the nation's largest private providers of pathology, clinical and molecular laboratory services, announced the company has been selected as an early access partner for the launch of Illumina's new sequencing-based COVID-19 test. COVIDSeq™ accommodates more than 3,000 test samples per run, allowing for a substantial increase in testing capacity.

Illumina, a global leader in sequencing technologies, received the first Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a sequencing-based test on June 9. COVIDSeq is being rolled out via a limited number of early access sites around the world including PathGroup's comprehensive 140,000-square-foot Nashville-area laboratory.

"The use of next-generation sequencing technology allows us to rapidly scale our diagnostic testing capabilities, which is critical as workplaces and schools continue to reopen," said Ben W. Davis, MD, president and CEO of PathGroup. "We are proud to partner with Illumina to launch this groundbreaking test."