CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en-US"> <head > <meta charset="UTF-8" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /> <meta name='robots' content='index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1' />  <title>SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern Identification - Field Guide</title> <meta name="description" content="Rapid identification and surveillance of viral strains is critical in tracking, tracing, and intervening in the global spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern." /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/a-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification/" /> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:title" content="A Quick Field Guide for SARS-CoV-2 Variant Identification" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Rapid identification and surveillance of viral strains is critical in tracking, tracing, and intervening in the global spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern." /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/a-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification/" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Behind the Bench" /> <meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/thermofisher" /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2022-02-07T10:05:47+00:00" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2022-02-07T18:05:10+00:00" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/01/COL018112-shutterstock_1705309726-1024x384.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1024" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="384" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <meta name="author" content="Behind The Bench Staff" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@thermofisher" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@thermofisher" /> <meta name="twitter:label1" content="Written by" /> <meta name="twitter:data1" content="Behind The Bench Staff" /> <meta name="twitter:label2" content="Est. reading time" /> <meta name="twitter:data2" content="6 minutes" /> <script type="application/ld+json" class="yoast-schema-graph">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/a-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification/","url":"https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/a-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification/","name":"SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern Identification - Field Guide","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/a-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/a-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/01/COL018112-shutterstock_1705309726.jpg","datePublished":"2022-02-07T10:05:47+00:00","dateModified":"2022-02-07T18:05:10+00:00","author":{"@id":"https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/#/schema/person/9bbb2d67616274d3d4a21a584f7f4a0c"},"description":"Rapid identification and surveillance of viral strains is critical in tracking, tracing, and intervening in the global spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/a-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/a-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/a-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification/#primaryimage","url":"https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/01/COL018112-shutterstock_1705309726.jpg","contentUrl":"https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/01/COL018112-shutterstock_1705309726.jpg","width":8000,"height":3000,"caption":"quick field guide for SARS-CoV-2 variant identification"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/a-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"A Quick Field Guide for SARS-CoV-2 Variant Identification"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/#website","url":"https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/","name":"Behind the Bench","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/#/schema/person/9bbb2d67616274d3d4a21a584f7f4a0c","name":"Behind The Bench Staff","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/#/schema/person/image/","url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/d6e5815e57520094d932400e2af233b9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/d6e5815e57520094d932400e2af233b9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Behind The Bench Staff"},"url":"https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/author/behind-the-bench-staff/"}]}</script>  <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//www.thermofisher.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//use.fontawesome.com' /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Behind the Bench » Feed" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/feed/" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Behind the Bench » Comments Feed" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/comments/feed/" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Behind the Bench » A Quick Field Guide for SARS-CoV-2 Variant Identification Comments Feed" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/a-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification/feed/" />  <script src="https://cdn.optimizely.com/js/8156647427.js"></script>  <script> (function(h,o,t,j,a,r){ h.hj=h.hj||function(){(h.hj.q=h.hj.q||[]).push(arguments)}; h._hjSettings={hjid:373708,hjsv:5}; a=o.getElementsByTagName('head')[0]; r=o.createElement('script');r.async=1; r.src=t+h._hjSettings.hjid+j+h._hjSettings.hjsv; a.appendChild(r); })(window,document,'//static.hotjar.com/c/hotjar-','.js?sv='); </script>  <script src="//www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-K4QTN4KM25" data-cfasync="false" data-wpfc-render="false" type="text/javascript" async></script> <script data-cfasync="false" data-wpfc-render="false" type="text/javascript"> var mi_version = '9.2.0'; var mi_track_user = true; var mi_no_track_reason = ''; var MonsterInsightsDefaultLocations = {"page_location":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/a-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification\/"}; if ( typeof MonsterInsightsPrivacyGuardFilter === 'function' ) { var MonsterInsightsLocations = (typeof MonsterInsightsExcludeQuery === 'object') ? MonsterInsightsPrivacyGuardFilter( MonsterInsightsExcludeQuery ) : MonsterInsightsPrivacyGuardFilter( MonsterInsightsDefaultLocations ); } else { var MonsterInsightsLocations = (typeof MonsterInsightsExcludeQuery === 'object') ? MonsterInsightsExcludeQuery : MonsterInsightsDefaultLocations; } var disableStrs = [ 'ga-disable-G-K4QTN4KM25', ]; /* Function to detect opted out users */ function __gtagTrackerIsOptedOut() { for (var index = 0; index < disableStrs.length; index++) { if (document.cookie.indexOf(disableStrs[index] + '=true') > -1) { return true; } } return false; } /* Disable tracking if the opt-out cookie exists. */ if (__gtagTrackerIsOptedOut()) { for (var index = 0; index < disableStrs.length; index++) { window[disableStrs[index]] = true; } } /* Opt-out function */ function __gtagTrackerOptout() { for (var index = 0; index < disableStrs.length; index++) { document.cookie = disableStrs[index] + '=true; expires=Thu, 31 Dec 2099 23:59:59 UTC; path=/'; window[disableStrs[index]] = true; } } if ('undefined' === typeof gaOptout) { function gaOptout() { __gtagTrackerOptout(); } } window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; window.MonsterInsightsDualTracker = { helpers: {}, trackers: {}, }; if (mi_track_user) { function __gtagDataLayer() { dataLayer.push(arguments); } function __gtagTracker(type, name, parameters) { if (!parameters) { parameters = {}; } if (parameters.send_to) { __gtagDataLayer.apply(null, arguments); return; } if (type === 'event') { parameters.send_to = monsterinsights_frontend.v4_id; var hookName = name; if (typeof parameters['event_category'] !== 'undefined') { hookName = parameters['event_category'] + ':' + name; } if (typeof MonsterInsightsDualTracker.trackers[hookName] !== 'undefined') { MonsterInsightsDualTracker.trackers[hookName](parameters); } else { __gtagDataLayer('event', name, parameters); } } else { __gtagDataLayer.apply(null, arguments); } } __gtagTracker('js', new Date()); __gtagTracker('set', { 'developer_id.dZGIzZG': true, }); if ( MonsterInsightsLocations.page_location ) { __gtagTracker('set', MonsterInsightsLocations); } __gtagTracker('config', 'G-K4QTN4KM25', {"use_amp_client_id":"true","forceSSL":"true","author":"user-120","category":"Infectious Diseases","published_at":"2022-02-07T10:05:47+00:00","tags":"Sanger Sequencing,sars-cov-2"} ); window.gtag = __gtagTracker; (function () { /* https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/collection/analyticsjs/ */ /* ga and __gaTracker compatibility shim. */ var noopfn = function () { return null; }; var newtracker = function () { return new Tracker(); }; var Tracker = function () { return null; }; var p = Tracker.prototype; p.get = noopfn; p.set = noopfn; p.send = function () { var args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments); args.unshift('send'); __gaTracker.apply(null, args); }; var __gaTracker = function () { var len = arguments.length; if (len === 0) { return; } var f = arguments[len - 1]; if (typeof f !== 'object' || f === null || typeof f.hitCallback !== 'function') { if ('send' === arguments[0]) { var hitConverted, hitObject = false, action; if ('event' === arguments[1]) { if ('undefined' !== typeof arguments[3]) { hitObject = { 'eventAction': arguments[3], 'eventCategory': arguments[2], 'eventLabel': arguments[4], 'value': arguments[5] ? arguments[5] : 1, } } } if ('pageview' === arguments[1]) { if ('undefined' !== typeof arguments[2]) { hitObject = { 'eventAction': 'page_view', 'page_path': arguments[2], } } } if (typeof arguments[2] === 'object') { hitObject = arguments[2]; } if (typeof arguments[5] === 'object') { Object.assign(hitObject, arguments[5]); } if ('undefined' !== typeof arguments[1].hitType) { hitObject = arguments[1]; if ('pageview' === hitObject.hitType) { hitObject.eventAction = 'page_view'; } } if (hitObject) { action = 'timing' === arguments[1].hitType ? 'timing_complete' : hitObject.eventAction; hitConverted = mapArgs(hitObject); __gtagTracker('event', action, hitConverted); } } return; } function mapArgs(args) { var arg, hit = {}; var gaMap = { 'eventCategory': 'event_category', 'eventAction': 'event_action', 'eventLabel': 'event_label', 'eventValue': 'event_value', 'nonInteraction': 'non_interaction', 'timingCategory': 'event_category', 'timingVar': 'name', 'timingValue': 'value', 'timingLabel': 'event_label', 'page': 'page_path', 'location': 'page_location', 'title': 'page_title', 'referrer' : 'page_referrer', }; for (arg in args) { if (!(!args.hasOwnProperty(arg) || !gaMap.hasOwnProperty(arg))) { hit[gaMap[arg]] = args[arg]; } else { hit[arg] = args[arg]; } } return hit; } try { f.hitCallback(); } catch (ex) { } }; __gaTracker.create = newtracker; __gaTracker.getByName = newtracker; __gaTracker.getAll = function () { return []; }; __gaTracker.remove = noopfn; __gaTracker.loaded = true; window['__gaTracker'] = __gaTracker; })(); } else { console.log(""); (function () { function __gtagTracker() { return null; } window['__gtagTracker'] = __gtagTracker; window['gtag'] = __gtagTracker; })(); } </script>  <link rel='stylesheet' id='jetpack_related-posts-css' href='https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/modules/related-posts/related-posts.css?ver=20240116' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='accelerating-science-blogs-css' href='https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/themes/accelerating-science-blogs/style.css?ver=1.2.9.3' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-block-library-css' href='https://www.thermofisher.com/blog//wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css?ver=6.6.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='mediaelement-css' href='https://www.thermofisher.com/blog//wp-includes/js/mediaelement/mediaelementplayer-legacy.min.css?ver=4.2.17' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-mediaelement-css' href='https://www.thermofisher.com/blog//wp-includes/js/mediaelement/wp-mediaelement.min.css?ver=6.6.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='jetpack-sharing-buttons-style-inline-css' type='text/css'> .jetpack-sharing-buttons__services-list{display:flex;flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0;list-style-type:none;margin:5px;padding:0}.jetpack-sharing-buttons__services-list.has-small-icon-size{font-size:12px}.jetpack-sharing-buttons__services-list.has-normal-icon-size{font-size:16px}.jetpack-sharing-buttons__services-list.has-large-icon-size{font-size:24px}.jetpack-sharing-buttons__services-list.has-huge-icon-size{font-size:36px}@media print{.jetpack-sharing-buttons__services-list{display:none!important}}.editor-styles-wrapper .wp-block-jetpack-sharing-buttons{gap:0;padding-inline-start:0}ul.jetpack-sharing-buttons__services-list.has-background{padding:1.25em 2.375em} </style> <style id='classic-theme-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> /*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} </style> <style id='global-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> :root{--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--square: 1;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--4-3: 4/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-4: 3/4;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-2: 3/2;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--2-3: 2/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--16-9: 16/9;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--9-16: 9/16;--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #ffffff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20: 0.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30: 0.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40: 1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50: 1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60: 2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70: 3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80: 5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural: 6px 6px 9px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep: 12px 12px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined: 6px 6px 0px -3px rgba(255, 255, 255, 1), 6px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap: 0.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap: 0.5em;}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} :where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;} :where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;} :root :where(.wp-block-pullquote){font-size: 1.5em;line-height: 1.6;} </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='mashsb-styles-css' href='https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/mashsharer/assets/css/mashsb.min.css?ver=4.0.47' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='mashsb-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> .mashsb-count {color:#555759;}[class^="mashicon-"] .text, [class*=" mashicon-"] .text{ text-indent: -9999px !important; line-height: 0px; display: block; } [class^="mashicon-"] .text:after, [class*=" mashicon-"] .text:after { content: "" !important; text-indent: 0; font-size:13px; display: block !important; } [class^="mashicon-"], [class*=" mashicon-"] { width:25%; text-align: center !important; } [class^="mashicon-"] .icon:before, [class*=" mashicon-"] .icon:before { float:none; margin-right: 0; } .mashsb-buttons a{ margin-right: 3px; margin-bottom:3px; min-width: 0; width: 41px; } .onoffswitch, .onoffswitch-inner:before, .onoffswitch-inner:after .onoffswitch2, .onoffswitch2-inner:before, .onoffswitch2-inner:after { margin-right: 0px; width: 41px; line-height: 41px; } </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='mashnet-styles-css' href='https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/mashshare-networks/assets/css/mashnet.min.css?ver=2.5.3' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='mashsas-styles-css' href='https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/mashshare-select-and-share/assets/css/mashsas.min.css?ver=1.0.5' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='gforms_reset_css-css' href='https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/legacy/css/formreset.min.css?ver=2.8.17' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='gforms_formsmain_css-css' href='https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/legacy/css/formsmain.min.css?ver=2.8.17' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='gforms_ready_class_css-css' href='https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/legacy/css/readyclass.min.css?ver=2.8.17' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='gforms_browsers_css-css' href='https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/legacy/css/browsers.min.css?ver=2.8.17' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='globals-css' href='https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/themes/accelerating-science-blogs/global-style.css?ver=1.2.9.3' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='bfa-font-awesome-css' href='https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/css/all.css?ver=2.0.3' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='bfa-font-awesome-v4-shim-css' href='https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/css/v4-shims.css?ver=2.0.3' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='bfa-font-awesome-v4-shim-inline-css' type='text/css'> @font-face { font-family: 'FontAwesome'; src: url('https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/webfonts/fa-brands-400.eot'), url('https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/webfonts/fa-brands-400.eot?#iefix') format('embedded-opentype'), url('https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/webfonts/fa-brands-400.woff2') format('woff2'), url('https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/webfonts/fa-brands-400.woff') format('woff'), url('https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/webfonts/fa-brands-400.ttf') format('truetype'), url('https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/webfonts/fa-brands-400.svg#fontawesome') format('svg'); } @font-face { font-family: 'FontAwesome'; src: url('https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/webfonts/fa-solid-900.eot'), url('https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/webfonts/fa-solid-900.eot?#iefix') format('embedded-opentype'), url('https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/webfonts/fa-solid-900.woff2') format('woff2'), url('https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/webfonts/fa-solid-900.woff') format('woff'), url('https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/webfonts/fa-solid-900.ttf') format('truetype'), url('https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/webfonts/fa-solid-900.svg#fontawesome') format('svg'); } @font-face { font-family: 'FontAwesome'; src: url('https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/webfonts/fa-regular-400.eot'), url('https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/webfonts/fa-regular-400.eot?#iefix') format('embedded-opentype'), url('https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/webfonts/fa-regular-400.woff2') format('woff2'), url('https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/webfonts/fa-regular-400.woff') format('woff'), url('https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/webfonts/fa-regular-400.ttf') format('truetype'), url('https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.15.4/webfonts/fa-regular-400.svg#fontawesome') format('svg'); unicode-range: U+F004-F005,U+F007,U+F017,U+F022,U+F024,U+F02E,U+F03E,U+F044,U+F057-F059,U+F06E,U+F070,U+F075,U+F07B-F07C,U+F080,U+F086,U+F089,U+F094,U+F09D,U+F0A0,U+F0A4-F0A7,U+F0C5,U+F0C7-F0C8,U+F0E0,U+F0EB,U+F0F3,U+F0F8,U+F0FE,U+F111,U+F118-F11A,U+F11C,U+F133,U+F144,U+F146,U+F14A,U+F14D-F14E,U+F150-F152,U+F15B-F15C,U+F164-F165,U+F185-F186,U+F191-F192,U+F1AD,U+F1C1-F1C9,U+F1CD,U+F1D8,U+F1E3,U+F1EA,U+F1F6,U+F1F9,U+F20A,U+F247-F249,U+F24D,U+F254-F25B,U+F25D,U+F267,U+F271-F274,U+F279,U+F28B,U+F28D,U+F2B5-F2B6,U+F2B9,U+F2BB,U+F2BD,U+F2C1-F2C2,U+F2D0,U+F2D2,U+F2DC,U+F2ED,U+F328,U+F358-F35B,U+F3A5,U+F3D1,U+F410,U+F4AD; } </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='boxzilla-css' href='https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/boxzilla/assets/css/styles.css?ver=3.3.1' type='text/css' media='all' /> <script type="text/javascript" id="jetpack_related-posts-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var related_posts_js_options = {"post_heading":"h4"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/jetpack/_inc/build/related-posts/related-posts.min.js?ver=20240116" id="jetpack_related-posts-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/google-analytics-premium/assets/js/frontend-gtag.min.js?ver=9.2.0" id="monsterinsights-frontend-script-js" async="async" data-wp-strategy="async"></script> <script data-cfasync="false" data-wpfc-render="false" type="text/javascript" id='monsterinsights-frontend-script-js-extra'>/* <![CDATA[ */ var monsterinsights_frontend = {"js_events_tracking":"true","download_extensions":"doc,pdf,ppt,zip,xls,docx,pptx,xlsx","inbound_paths":"[]","home_url":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench","hash_tracking":"false","v4_id":"G-K4QTN4KM25"};/* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog//wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js?ver=3.7.1" id="jquery-core-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog//wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js?ver=3.4.1" id="jquery-migrate-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="mashsb-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var mashsb = {"shares":"0","round_shares":"1","animate_shares":"0","dynamic_buttons":"0","share_url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/a-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification\/","title":"A+Quick+Field+Guide+for+SARS-CoV-2+Variant+Identification","image":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/COL018112-shutterstock_1705309726.jpg","desc":"Continuing Global Presence and Infections\r\nWhat Strains of SARS-CoV-2 Are Circulating?\r\nThe COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause significant disruptions around the globe. The continuing viral presence and new infections raise the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 will evolve into \u2026","hashtag":"thermofisher","subscribe":"content","subscribe_url":"","activestatus":"1","singular":"1","twitter_popup":"1","refresh":"1","nonce":"c2e6b09adb","postid":"16051","servertime":"1732346907","ajaxurl":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/mashsharer/assets/js/mashsb.min.js?ver=4.0.47" id="mashsb-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/mashshare-google-analytics/assets/js/mashga.min.js?ver=1.0.9" id="mashga-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="mashnet-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var mashnet = {"body":"Check out this article I just read:","subject":"Check out this article from Accelerating Science","pinterest_select":"1","pinterest_image":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/COL018112-shutterstock_1705309726.jpg","pinterest_desc":"Continuing Global Presence and Infections\r\nWhat Strains of SARS-CoV-2 Are Circulating?\r\nThe COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause significant disruptions around the globe. The continuing viral presence and new infections raise the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 will evolve into \u2026"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/mashshare-networks/assets/js/mashnet.min.js?ver=2.5.3" id="mashnet-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog//wp-includes/js/underscore.min.js?ver=1.13.4" id="underscore-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog//wp-includes/js/backbone.min.js?ver=1.5.0" id="backbone-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="wp-api-js-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var WP_API_Settings = {"root":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench","nonce":"8e838958fa"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/wp-search-live/public/assets/js/util--wp-api.js?ver=0.9" id="wp-api-js-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="mashsas-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var mashsas = {"minchars":"10","appid":"1603510369972799","facebook":"1","twitter":"1","mail":"1"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/mashshare-select-and-share/assets/js/mashsas.min.js?ver=1.0.5" id="mashsas-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" defer='defer' src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/js/jquery.json.min.js?ver=2.8.17" id="gform_json-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="gform_gravityforms-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var gf_global = {"gf_currency_config":{"name":"U.S. Dollar","symbol_left":"$","symbol_right":"","symbol_padding":"","thousand_separator":",","decimal_separator":".","decimals":2,"code":"USD"},"base_url":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/plugins\/gravityforms","number_formats":[],"spinnerUrl":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/plugins\/gravityforms\/images\/spinner.svg","version_hash":"4a792b070322e711c2521ee9802c04ea","strings":{"newRowAdded":"New row added.","rowRemoved":"Row removed","formSaved":"The form has been saved. The content contains the link to return and complete the form."}}; var gf_global = {"gf_currency_config":{"name":"U.S. Dollar","symbol_left":"$","symbol_right":"","symbol_padding":"","thousand_separator":",","decimal_separator":".","decimals":2,"code":"USD"},"base_url":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/plugins\/gravityforms","number_formats":[],"spinnerUrl":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/plugins\/gravityforms\/images\/spinner.svg","version_hash":"4a792b070322e711c2521ee9802c04ea","strings":{"newRowAdded":"New row added.","rowRemoved":"Row removed","formSaved":"The form has been saved. The content contains the link to return and complete the form."}}; var gf_global = {"gf_currency_config":{"name":"U.S. Dollar","symbol_left":"$","symbol_right":"","symbol_padding":"","thousand_separator":",","decimal_separator":".","decimals":2,"code":"USD"},"base_url":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/plugins\/gravityforms","number_formats":[],"spinnerUrl":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/plugins\/gravityforms\/images\/spinner.svg","version_hash":"4a792b070322e711c2521ee9802c04ea","strings":{"newRowAdded":"New row added.","rowRemoved":"Row removed","formSaved":"The form has been saved. The content contains the link to return and complete the form."}}; var gf_global = {"gf_currency_config":{"name":"U.S. Dollar","symbol_left":"$","symbol_right":"","symbol_padding":"","thousand_separator":",","decimal_separator":".","decimals":2,"code":"USD"},"base_url":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/plugins\/gravityforms","number_formats":[],"spinnerUrl":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/plugins\/gravityforms\/images\/spinner.svg","version_hash":"4a792b070322e711c2521ee9802c04ea","strings":{"newRowAdded":"New row added.","rowRemoved":"Row removed","formSaved":"The form has been saved. The content contains the link to return and complete the form."}}; var gform_i18n = {"datepicker":{"days":{"monday":"Mo","tuesday":"Tu","wednesday":"We","thursday":"Th","friday":"Fr","saturday":"Sa","sunday":"Su"},"months":{"january":"January","february":"February","march":"March","april":"April","may":"May","june":"June","july":"July","august":"August","september":"September","october":"October","november":"November","december":"December"},"firstDay":1,"iconText":"Select date"}}; var gf_legacy_multi = {"1":"1","":"1"}; var gform_gravityforms = {"strings":{"invalid_file_extension":"This type of file is not allowed. Must be one of the following:","delete_file":"Delete this file","in_progress":"in progress","file_exceeds_limit":"File exceeds size limit","illegal_extension":"This type of file is not allowed.","max_reached":"Maximum number of files reached","unknown_error":"There was a problem while saving the file on the server","currently_uploading":"Please wait for the uploading to complete","cancel":"Cancel","cancel_upload":"Cancel this upload","cancelled":"Cancelled"},"vars":{"images_url":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/plugins\/gravityforms\/images"}}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" defer='defer' src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/js/gravityforms.min.js?ver=2.8.17" id="gform_gravityforms-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" defer='defer' src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/js/chosen.jquery.min.js?ver=2.8.17" id="gform_chosen-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" defer='defer' src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/assets/js/dist/utils.min.js?ver=50c7bea9c2320e16728e44ae9fde5f26" id="gform_gravityforms_utils-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/themes/accelerating-science-blogs/js/single-scripts.js?ver=1.2.9.3" id="single-scripts-js"></script> <link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-json/" /><link rel="alternate" title="JSON" type="application/json" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/16051" /><link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" title="RSD" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/xmlrpc.php?rsd" /> <link rel='shortlink' href='https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/?p=16051' /> <link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (JSON)" type="application/json+oembed" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thermofisher.com%2Fblog%2Fbehindthebench%2Fa-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification%2F" /> <link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (XML)" type="text/xml+oembed" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thermofisher.com%2Fblog%2Fbehindthebench%2Fa-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification%2F&format=xml" /> <meta property="fb:pages" content="258357757657262" /> <meta property="ia:markup_url" content="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/a-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification/?ia_markup=1" />  <link rel="icon" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/themes/accelerating-science-blogs/images/favicon.ico" />  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-34877942-1"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'UA-34877942-1'); </script>  <script> !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n; n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script','https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); fbq('init', '305572349637096'); fbq('track', "PageView");</script> <noscript><img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=305572349637096&ev=PageView&noscript=1" /></noscript>   <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=AW-1013120100"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'AW-1013120100'); </script>  <script> gtag('event', 'conversion', {'send_to': 'AW-1013120100/_RFLCLT6yqsBEOT4i-MD'}); </script> <script type="application/ld+json"> {"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"BlogPosting","mainEntityofPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/behindthebench\/a-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification\/"},"headline":"A Quick Field Guide for SARS-CoV-2 Variant Identification","datePublished":"02\/07\/2022","dateModified":"02\/07\/2022","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Thermo Fisher Scientific","URL":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/us\/en\/home.html","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/content\/dam\/LifeTech\/Images\/Header\/logo-color.png"}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/01\/COL018112-shutterstock_1705309726.jpg","width":8000,"height":3000},"keywords":"Sanger Sequencing, sars-cov-2, ","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Behind The Bench Staff"}} </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/etc/designs/lifetech/clientlibs/digitaldata.js" defer="defer"></script> <script id="tagmanager" type="text/javascript" src='https://assets.adobedtm.com/launch-ENeecb77f1160a4928a492ff040f7110c7.min.js' defer="defer"></script> <script> (function($) { $(document).ready(function() { digitalData.setPageType('blog'); }) })(jQuery); </script> <style type="text/css" id="wp-custom-css"> /* Welcome to Custom CSS! To learn how this works, see http://wp.me/PEmnE-Bt */blockquote { width: 450px; color:#FFF; background: #7d7e7d; /* Old browsers */ background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #7d7e7d 0%, #0e0e0e 100%); /* FF3.6+ */ background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%,#7d7e7d), color-stop(100%,#0e0e0e)); /* Chrome,Safari4+ */ background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, #7d7e7d 0%,#0e0e0e 100%); /* Chrome10+,Safari5.1+ */ background: -o-linear-gradient(top, #7d7e7d 0%,#0e0e0e 100%); /* Opera 11.10+ */ background: -ms-linear-gradient(top, #7d7e7d 0%,#0e0e0e 100%); /* IE10+ */ background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #7d7e7d 0%,#0e0e0e 100%); /* W3C */ filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient( startColorstr=’#7d7e7d’, endColorstr=’#0e0e0e’,GradientType=0 ); /* IE6-9 */ border: 1px solid #ccc; border-radius: 6px; box-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #ccc; font-style: italic; } </style> </head> <body class="post-template-default single single-post postid-16051 single-format-standard header-image full-width-content genesis-breadcrumbs-visible"><div class="site-container"><header class="site-header"><div class="wrap"><div class="title-area"><p class="site-title"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/" title="Thermo Fisher Scientific">Thermo Fisher Scientific</a></p></div><div class="widget-area header-widget-area"><section id="nav_menu-2" class="widget widget_nav_menu"><div class="widget-wrap"><nav class="nav-header"><ul id="menu-main-menu" class="menu genesis-nav-menu"><li id="menu-item-15" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-15"><a><span >Categories</span></a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-22" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-22"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/materials/"><span >Advancing Materials</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-21" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-21"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/mining/"><span >Advancing Mining</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-17937" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-17937"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/analyteguru/"><span >AnalyteGuru</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-20" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-20"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/metals/"><span >Analyzing Metals</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-12913" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-12913"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/ask-a-scientist/"><span >Ask a Scientist</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-16" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-16"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/"><span >Behind the Bench</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-17769" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-17769"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/biotechnology/"><span >Biotech at Scale</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-16657" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-16657"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/clinical-conversations/"><span >Clinical Conversations</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-19" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-19"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/food/"><span >Examining Food</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-10924" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-10924"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/identifying-threats/"><span >Identifying Threats</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-16704" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-16704"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/semiconductors/"><span >Illuminating Semiconductors</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-16705" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-16705"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/atomic-resolution/"><span >Life in Atomic Resolution</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-10922" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-10922"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/life-in-the-lab/"><span >Life in the Lab</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-16658" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-16658"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/oempowered/"><span >OEMpowered</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-12812" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-12812"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/connectedlab/"><span >The Connected Lab</span></a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-24" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-24"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/about-us/"><span >About Us</span></a></li> <li id="menu-item-25" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-25"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/contact-us/?site=behindthebench"><span >Contact</span></a></li> </ul></nav></div></section> </div><div class="breadcrumb"><span class="breadcrumb-link-wrap"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/?">Accelerating Science</a></span><span class="breadcrumb-link-wrap"><a class="breadcrumb-link" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/"><span class="breadcrumb-link-text-wrap">Behind the Bench</span></a><meta ></span> <span aria-label="breadcrumb separator">/</span> <span class="breadcrumb-link-wrap"><a class="breadcrumb-link" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/infectious-diseases/"><span class="breadcrumb-link-text-wrap">Infectious Diseases</span></a><meta ></span> <span aria-label="breadcrumb separator">/</span> <span class="breadcrumb-current-title">A Quick Field Guide for SARS-CoV-2 Variant Identification</span></div></div></header> <section class="hero-banner" style="background-image:url(https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/01/COL018112-shutterstock_1705309726.jpg)"> </section> <div class="site-inner"><div class="content-sidebar-wrap"><main class="content"><article class="post-16051 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail category-infectious-diseases tag-sanger-sequencing tag-sars-cov-2 entry" aria-label="A Quick Field Guide for SARS-CoV-2 Variant Identification"><header class="entry-header"><h1 class="entry-title">A Quick Field Guide for SARS-CoV-2 Variant Identification</h1> <span class="post-info-author"> By <a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/author/behind-the-bench-staff/" title="Posts by Behind The Bench Staff" rel="author">Behind The Bench Staff</a> </span> <span class="post-info-date"> 02.07.2022 </span> </header><div class="entry-content"><h2>Continuing Global Presence and Infections</h2> <h3>What Strains of SARS-CoV-2 Are Circulating?</h3> <p>The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause significant disruptions around the globe. The continuing viral presence and new infections raise the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 will evolve into new variants with slightly different biological characteristics. This has been observed since December 2020, when the first variant of concern (B.1.1.7, recently given the Alpha designation) arose in the UK and rapidly spread. This was followed by independent appearances of the B.1.351 variant (Beta), the P.1 variant (Gamma), the B.1.617.2 variant (Delta), and most recently B.1.1.529 (Omicron).<br /> <img decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-15118 size-medium" title="The Challenge of Monitoring Viral Strains in Populations" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/06/host-virus20interactions-300x199.jpeg" alt="A graphic of SARS-CoV-2 virus with DNA strand on a colorful background" width="300" height="199" srcset="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/06/host-virus20interactions-300x199.jpeg 300w, https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/06/host-virus20interactions-768x510.jpeg 768w, https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/06/host-virus20interactions-96x65.jpeg 96w, https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/06/host-virus20interactions.jpeg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p> <h2>The Challenge of Monitoring Viral Strains in Populations</h2> <h3>Surveillance Allows Tracking, Tracing, and Intervention</h3> <p>Throughout the pandemic, researchers and public health authorities have had to monitor which strain was present and circulating in their populations. Surveilling the circulating strain allowed them to track and trace exposures and intervene if and when appropriate.</p> <h2>Various Methods Exist for Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Variants</h2> <ul> <li>The <a title="Build Your Own Custom TaqMan SARS-CoV-2 Mutation Panel" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/clinical/clinical-genomics/pathogen-detection-solutions/real-time-pcr-research-solutions-sars-cov-2/mutation-panel.html?cid=fl-mutationpanel&SID=fr-FRCmutationpanel-main#Q493R" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Applied Biosystems™ TaqMan® SARS-CoV-2 Mutation family of genotyping assays</a> allows investigators to select from a menu of specific assays that detect specific nucleic acid changes.</li> <li>Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) approaches, such as the <a title="Ion AmpliSeq SARS-CoV-2 Insight Research Assay" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/sequencing/dna-sequencing/microbial-sequencing/microbial-identification-ion-torrent-next-generation-sequencing/viral-typing/coronavirus-research.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ion AmpliSeq SARS-CoV-2 Insight Research Assay</a>, can provide complete sequence coverage of the viral genome in a sample, facilitating detection of existing or novel mutations.</li> <li>Finally, we have developed a <a title="Sanger Sequencing Solutions for SARS-CoV-2 Research - Generate Highly Specific Targeted Results" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/sequencing/sanger-sequencing/applications/sars-cov-2-research.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">panel of wet lab-tested Sanger sequencing primers</a> that enable researchers to focus on specific regions of the genome that might harbor mutations.</li> </ul> <p>These multiple surveillance solutions provide researchers with the ability to identify, detect, and confirm new and emerging SARS-CoV-2 strains.</p> <p><strong>Related</strong>: <a title="SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Surveillance" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/how-s-gene-target-failure-and-s-gene-sequencing-is-key-for-omicron-variant-surveillance/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Surveillance</a></p> <h2>New SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern</h2> <h3>Researchers & Public Health Need Rapid Virus Strain Identification</h3> <h4>Sanger Sequencing Covers Unique & Specific Mutations for Variants of Concern</h4> <p>Because of the newly emerging variants of concern (VOCs), researchers and public health officials need to have a rapid method for determining whether a sample potentially contains one of these VOCs. To help investigators with this, we turned to the previously-described, proven set of Sanger sequencing primers (1). We selected sequencing primers that could cover unique and specific mutations for each of the VOCs. First, mutations were chosen that could detect the strain with greater than 95% sensitivity (2). Second, mutations that were common between the strains were ignored – the mutations unique for the variants were the focus of this selection. One exception was made for the S-gene del69/70del mutation – this mutation is characteristic of both the Alpha and Omicron variants (3, 4). Next, primers covering these mutations were chosen using the SARS-CoV-2 Sanger Primer Pair Lookup App (5). In some cases, a single primer pair covered more than one mutation.</p> <p><strong>Related</strong>: <a title="Explore the SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Mutations Interactive Viewer and Get the Poster" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/global/forms/life-science/sars-cov-2-mutations-variants.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Explore the SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Mutations Interactive Viewer and Get the Poster</a></p> <table width="654"> <tbody> <tr style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4"> <td width="128">=</td> <td width="105">Alpha</td> <td width="105">Beta</td> <td width="105">Gamma</td> <td width="105">Delta</td> <td width="105">Omicron</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-3</td> <td width="105"></td> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#ff0200" width="105"><em> Orf1ab</em> T265I</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-8</td> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#ff0200" width="105"><em> Orf1ab</em> T1001I</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-9</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#ff0200" width="105"><em> Orf1ab</em> S1188L</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-13</td> <td width="105"></td> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#ff0200" width="105"> <em>Orf1ab</em> K1655N</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-14</td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"> <em>Orf1ab</em> A1708D</td> <td width="105"></td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>Orf1ab</em> K1795Q</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-18</td> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#ff0200" width="105"> <em>Orf1ab</em> I2230T</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-26</td> <td width="105"></td> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#ff0200" width="105"> <em>Orf1ab</em> K3353R</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-27</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#ff0200" width="105"><em> Orf1ab</em> P3395H</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-40</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#ff0200" width="105"> <em>Orf1ab</em> G5063S</td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-55</td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>S</em> del69/70</td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>S</em> D80A</td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>S</em> L18F, T20N, P26S</td> <td width="105"></td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>S</em> del69/70</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-56</td> <td width="105"></td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>S</em> D215G, del241/243</td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>S</em> D138Y, R190S</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-57</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#ff0200" width="105"><em> S</em> G339D</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-58</td> <td width="105"></td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>S</em> E484K, N501Y</td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>S</em> K471T, E484K, N501Y</td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>S</em> L452R, T478K</td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>S</em> G446S</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-59</td> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#ff0200" width="105"> S D614G</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-60</td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>S</em> T716I</td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>S</em> A701V</td> <td width="105"></td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>S</em> P681R</td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>S</em> D614G, H665Y, N679K, P681H,</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-62b</td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>S</em> 982A</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>S</em> D950N</td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-63</td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>S</em> D1118H</td> <td width="105"></td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>S</em> T1027I</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-64</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>S</em> V1176F</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-65</td> <td width="105"></td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>Orf3a</em> Q57H</td> <td width="105"></td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>Orf3a</em> S26L</td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-66</td> <td width="105"></td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>Orf3a</em> S171L</td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>ORF3a</em> S253P</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-67</td> <td width="105"></td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>E</em> P71L</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>E</em> T9I</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-67b</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>M</em> I82T</td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>M</em> Q19E, A63T</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-70</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#ff0200" width="105"><em> Orf7a</em> V82A</td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-71</td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>Orf8</em> Q27*, R52I, Y73C</td> <td width="105"></td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>Orf8</em> E92K</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-72b</td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>N</em> D3L</td> <td width="105"></td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>N</em> P80R</td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>N</em> D63G</td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128"><em>SC2M1-73</em></td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>N</em> R203K, G204R</td> <td bgcolor="#feff00" width="105"><em>N</em> T205I</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#4472c4" width="128">SC2M1-74</td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td width="105"></td> <td style="color: white" bgcolor="#ff0200" width="105"> <em>N</em> D377Y</td> <td width="105"></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Table 1. Primer sets for Sanger sequencing are in the leftmost column; variant of concern strain names are in the topmost row. Mutations unique for the VOC are listed in the boxes as gene name followed by the amino acid change. Yellow boxes highlight mutations that can be picked up with a single sequencing primer pair; red boxes are unique mutations that can be picked up with a unique primer pair.</p> <h4>Sanger Sequencing Selection Results</h4> <p>The results of the selection are shown in Table 1. The white cells/fields/blocks indicate that there are no unique mutations in that strain that will be picked up by the primers. They can still be used for confirming SARS-CoV-2 sequence in that amplicon, but they are not expected to reveal strain-specific information.</p> <h4>Primer Pairs that Cover Unique Mutations for the Variant</h4> <p>The cells/fields/blocks highlighted in yellow denote primer pairs that cover unique mutations for the variant. Note that in some cases, the same primers are listed for different strains. This simply means that the primers will identify different strain-specific mutations that fall into the same amplicon. For example, the primer set SC2M1-67b will identify the M-gene Q19E and M-gene A63T of the Omicron strain, as well as the M-gene I82T of the Delta strain. <img decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-15624 size-medium" title="Primer Sets for Rapid Front-Line Screening for Presence of Variants of Concern" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/11/concept-image-bw-lab-scientisit-with-test-tube-color-overlay-of-dna-chromosomes-virus-285x300.png" alt="concept image of lab scientisit with test tube, color overlay of dna, chromosomes, and viruses" width="285" height="300" srcset="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/11/concept-image-bw-lab-scientisit-with-test-tube-color-overlay-of-dna-chromosomes-virus-285x300.png 285w, https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/11/concept-image-bw-lab-scientisit-with-test-tube-color-overlay-of-dna-chromosomes-virus-974x1024.png 974w, https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/11/concept-image-bw-lab-scientisit-with-test-tube-color-overlay-of-dna-chromosomes-virus-768x808.png 768w, https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/11/concept-image-bw-lab-scientisit-with-test-tube-color-overlay-of-dna-chromosomes-virus.png 1412w" sizes="(max-width: 285px) 100vw, 285px" />The amino acid changes covered by the amplicon are indicated in the box. Some of these primer sets with the most overlap might be most flexible for possible strain identification. For example, the primer set SC2M1-60 will pick up unique mutations in Alpha, Beta, Delta and four in Omicron – but since Gamma has no characteristic mutations in this amplicon, the primer set will not identify Gamma.</p> <h4>Primers that Pick Up a Characteristic Mutation in Only One Strain</h4> <p>The cells/fields/blocks highlighted in red denote the primers that will pick up a characteristic mutation in only one strain. These may be useful if a surveillance strategy involves choosing strain-specific primers that can provide a unique outcome.</p> <h4>Primer Sets for Rapid Front-Line Screening for Presence of VOCs</h4> <p>The table provides information about the primers that can pick up some of the most characteristic mutations in variants of concern. However, a positive result that identifies one of the mutations is not a solid identification of a particular VOC. It merely is suggestive that the VOC is present, and more testing is needed for an unambiguous ID. For an unambiguous identification, all of the mutations that have been defined for the VOC should be determined by reflex testing. Nevertheless, these primer sets may be useful for investigators who need rapid, front-line screening for the possible presence of the common VOCs.</p> <h2>SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance Resources and Solutions</h2> <p>We provide researchers with the ability to identify, detect, and confirm new and emerging SARS-CoV-2 strains.</p> <ul> <li><a title="SARS-CoV-2 Epidemiological Surveillance – Variant Impact – Mutation Detection – Sequencing" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/clinical/clinical-genomics/pathogen-detection-solutions/covid-19-sars-cov-2/mutations-variants/surveillance.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SARS-CoV-2 Epidemiological Surveillance</a></li> <li><a title="Build Your Own Custom TaqMan SARS-CoV-2 Mutation Panel" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/clinical/clinical-genomics/pathogen-detection-solutions/real-time-pcr-research-solutions-sars-cov-2/mutation-panel.html?cid=fl-mutationpanel&SID=fr-FRCmutationpanel-main" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TaqMan SARS-CoV-2 Mutation Panel</a></li> <li><a title="Ion AmpliSeq SARS-CoV-2 Insight Research Assay" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/sequencing/dna-sequencing/microbial-sequencing/microbial-identification-ion-torrent-next-generation-sequencing/viral-typing/coronavirus-research.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ion AmpliSeq SARS-CoV-2 Insight Research Assay</a></li> <li><a title="Sanger Sequencing Solutions for SARS-CoV-2 Research - Generate Highly Specific Targeted Results" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/sequencing/sanger-sequencing/applications/sars-cov-2-research.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sanger Sequencing Solutions for SARS-CoV-2 Research</a></li> </ul> <p>—</p> <h2>References</h2> <ol> <li><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/sequencing/sanger-sequencing/applications/sars-cov-2-research.html">https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/sequencing/sanger-sequencing/applications/sars-cov-2-research.html</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.gisaid.org/">https://www.gisaid.org/</a></li> <li>Kidd, M., et al., <em>S-Variant SARS-CoV-2 Lineage B1.1.7 Is Associated With Significantly Higher Viral Load in Samples Tested by TaqPath Polymerase Chain Reaction.</em> J Infect Dis, 2021. <strong>223</strong>(10): p. 1666-1670.</li> <li><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/scientific-brief-omicron-variant.html">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/scientific-brief-omicron-variant.html</a></li> <li><a href="http://gsd-datalake-sars-cov2-sanger-primer-lookup.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/">http://gsd-datalake-sars-cov2-sanger-primer-lookup.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com/</a></li> </ol> <aside class="mashsb-container mashsb-main "><div class="mashsb_above_buttons">Share this article </div><div class="mashsb-box"><div class="mashsb-buttons"><a class="mashicon-facebook mash-large mashsb-noshadow" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thermofisher.com%2Fblog%2Fbehindthebench%2Fa-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification%2F" target="_top" rel="nofollow"><span class="icon"></span><span class="text">Facebook</span></a><a class="mashicon-linkedin mash-large mashsb-noshadow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?trk=A+Quick+Field+Guide+for+SARS-CoV-2+Variant+Identification&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thermofisher.com%2Fblog%2Fbehindthebench%2Fa-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification%2F" target="_top" rel="nofollow"><span class="icon"></span><span class="text">Linkedin</span></a><a class="mashicon-twitter mash-large mashsb-noshadow" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Various%20methods%20exist%20for%20surveillance%20of%20SARS-CoV-2%20variants&url=https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/?p=16051&via=thermofisher" target="_top" rel="nofollow"><span class="icon"></span><span class="text">Twitter</span></a><a class="mashicon-mail mash-large mashsb-noshadow" href="mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20this%20article%20from%20Accelerating%20Science&body=Check%20out%20this%20article%20I%20just%20read%3Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.thermofisher.com%2Fblog%2Fbehindthebench%2Fa-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification%2F" target="_top" rel="nofollow"><span class="icon"></span><span class="text">Mail</span></a><div class="onoffswitch2 mash-large mashsb-noshadow" style="display:none"></div></div> </div> <div style="clear:both"></div><div class="mashsb-toggle-container"></div></aside> </div></article> <div id="respond" class="comment-respond"> <h3 id="reply-title" class="comment-reply-title">Leave a Reply <small><a rel="nofollow" id="cancel-comment-reply-link" href="/behindthebench/a-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification/#respond" style="display:none;">Cancel reply</a></small></h3><form action="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-comments-post.php" method="post" id="commentform" class="comment-form" novalidate><p class="comment-notes"><span id="email-notes">Your email address will not be published.</span> <span class="required-field-message">Required fields are marked <span class="required">*</span></span></p><p class="comment-form-comment"><label for="comment">Comment <span class="required">*</span></label> <textarea id="comment" name="comment" cols="45" rows="8" maxlength="65525" required></textarea></p><p class="comment-form-author"><label for="author">Name <span class="required">*</span></label> <input id="author" name="author" type="text" value="" size="30" maxlength="245" autocomplete="name" required /></p> <p class="comment-form-email"><label for="email">Email <span class="required">*</span></label> <input id="email" name="email" type="email" value="" size="30" maxlength="100" aria-describedby="email-notes" autocomplete="email" required /></p> <p class="comment-form-url"><label for="url">Website</label> <input id="url" name="url" type="url" value="" size="30" maxlength="200" autocomplete="url" /></p> <p class="form-submit"><input name="submit" type="submit" id="submit" class="submit" value="Post Comment" /> <input type='hidden' name='comment_post_ID' value='16051' id='comment_post_ID' /> <input type='hidden' name='comment_parent' id='comment_parent' value='0' /> </p><p style="display: none;"><input type="hidden" id="akismet_comment_nonce" name="akismet_comment_nonce" value="28dd04f114" /></p><p style="display: none !important;" class="akismet-fields-container" data-prefix="ak_"><label>Δ<textarea name="ak_hp_textarea" cols="45" rows="8" maxlength="100"></textarea></label><input type="hidden" id="ak_js_2" name="ak_js" value="50"/><script>document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );</script></p></form> </div> <div class="adjacent-entry-pagination pagination"><div class="pagination-previous alignleft"><i class="fa fa-icon fa-chevron-left"></i> <a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/disease-modeling-using-induced-pluripotent-stem-cells/" rel="prev">Disease Modeling Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells</a></div><div class="pagination-next alignright"><a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/easy-rapid-and-routine-sars-cov-2-sequencing/" rel="next">Easy, Rapid, and Routine SARS-CoV-2 Sequencing</a> <i class="fa fa-icon fa-chevron-right"></i></div></div></main></div></div><footer class="site-footer"><div class="wrap"><div class="creds"><p class="footer-links"><a href="https://corporate.thermofisher.com/en/footer/privacy-statement.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Privacy Statement</a><a href="https://corporate.thermofisher.com/en/footer/terms-and-conditions.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Terms & Conditions</a><a href="/blog/locations/">Locations</a><a href="/blog/sitemap/">Sitemap</a></p><p>© 2024 <a href="https://www.thermofisher.com">Thermo Fisher Scientific</a>. All Rights Reserved.</p></div><span class="social-links"><p>Talk to us</p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/thermofisher" class="facebook" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="fa fa-icon fa-facebook"></i></a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/thermo-fisher-scientific" class="linkedin" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="fa fa-icon fa-linkedin"></i></a><a href="https://twitter.com/thermofisher" class="twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="fa fa-icon fa-twitter"></i></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/thermofisher" class="youtube" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="fa fa-icon fa-youtube"></i></a></span></div></footer></div><div style="display: none;"><div id="boxzilla-box-10626-content"><p><h4>Get news and research reviews on the topic of your choice, right in your inbox.</h4> </p> <p><a id="subscribe" class="button" href="#">Subscribe Now</a></p> <div id="subscribe-form"> <div class='gf_browser_ie gf_browser_ie7 gform_wrapper gform_legacy_markup_wrapper gform-theme--no-framework' data-form-theme='legacy' data-form-index='1' id='gform_wrapper_1' ><form method='post' enctype='multipart/form-data' id='gform_1' action='/blog/behindthebench/a-quick-field-guide-for-sars-cov-2-variant-identification/' formid='1'> <div class='gform-body gform_body'><ul id='gform_fields_1' class='gform_fields top_label form_sublabel_above description_below validation_below'><li id="field_1_4" class="gfield gfield--type-text first-name field_sublabel_above gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_1_4" ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label screen-reader-text' for='input_1_4'>First Name</label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_4' id='input_1_4' type='text' value='' class='large' placeholder='First Name' aria-invalid="false" /> </div></li><li id="field_1_5" class="gfield gfield--type-text last-name field_sublabel_above gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_1_5" ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label screen-reader-text' for='input_1_5'>Last Name</label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_5' id='input_1_5' type='text' value='' class='large' placeholder='Last Name' aria-invalid="false" /> </div></li><li id="field_1_2" class="gfield gfield--type-email email gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_above gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_1_2" ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label screen-reader-text' for='input_1_2'>Email<span class="gfield_required"><span class="gfield_required gfield_required_asterisk">*</span></span></label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_email'> <input name='input_2' id='input_1_2' type='email' value='' class='large' placeholder='Email' aria-required="true" aria-invalid="false" /> </div></li><li id="field_1_6" class="gfield gfield--type-text company field_sublabel_above gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_1_6" ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label screen-reader-text' for='input_1_6'>Company</label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_6' id='input_1_6' type='text' value='' class='large' placeholder='Company' aria-invalid="false" /> </div></li><li id="field_1_7" class="gfield gfield--type-select country gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_above gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_1_7" ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label screen-reader-text' for='input_1_7'>Select your country/region<span class="gfield_required"><span class="gfield_required gfield_required_asterisk">*</span></span></label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_select'><select name='input_7' id='input_1_7' class='large gfield_select' aria-required="true" aria-invalid="false" ><option value='' selected='selected' class='gf_placeholder'>Select your country/region</option><option value='United States' >United States</option><option value='Canada' >Canada</option><option value='Afghanistan' >Afghanistan</option><option value='Albania' >Albania</option><option value='Algeria' >Algeria</option><option value='American Samoa' >American Samoa</option><option value='Andorra' >Andorra</option><option value='Angola' >Angola</option><option value='Anguilla' >Anguilla</option><option value='Antarctica' >Antarctica</option><option value='Antigua and Barbuda' >Antigua and Barbuda</option><option value='Argentina' >Argentina</option><option value='Armenia' >Armenia</option><option value='Aruba' >Aruba</option><option value='Australia' >Australia</option><option value='Austria' >Austria</option><option value='Azerbaijan' >Azerbaijan</option><option value='Bahamas' >Bahamas</option><option value='Bahrain' >Bahrain</option><option value='Bangladesh' >Bangladesh</option><option value='Barbados' >Barbados</option><option value='Belarus' >Belarus</option><option value='Belgium' >Belgium</option><option value='Belize' >Belize</option><option value='Benin' >Benin</option><option value='Bermuda' >Bermuda</option><option value='Bhutan' >Bhutan</option><option value='Bolivia' >Bolivia</option><option value='Bosnia and Herzegovina' >Bosnia and Herzegovina</option><option value='Botswana' >Botswana</option><option value='Bouvet Island' >Bouvet Island</option><option value='Brazil' >Brazil</option><option value='British Indian Ocean Territory' >British Indian Ocean Territory</option><option value='Brunei Darussalam' >Brunei Darussalam</option><option value='Bulgaria' >Bulgaria</option><option value='Burkina Faso' >Burkina Faso</option><option value='Burundi' >Burundi</option><option value='Cambodia' >Cambodia</option><option value='Cameroon' >Cameroon</option><option value='Cape Verde' >Cape Verde</option><option value='Cayman Islands' >Cayman Islands</option><option value='Central African Republic' >Central African Republic</option><option value='Chad' >Chad</option><option value='Chile' >Chile</option><option value='China' >China</option><option value='Christmas Island' >Christmas Island</option><option value='Cocos (Keeling) Islands' >Cocos (Keeling) Islands</option><option value='Colombia' >Colombia</option><option value='Comoros' >Comoros</option><option value='Congo' >Congo</option><option value='Congo, The Democratic Republic of' >Congo, The Democratic Republic of</option><option value='Cook Islands' >Cook Islands</option><option value='Costa Rica' >Costa Rica</option><option value='Cote D'Ivoire' >Cote D'Ivoire</option><option value='Croatia' >Croatia</option><option value='Cuba' >Cuba</option><option value='Cyprus' >Cyprus</option><option value='Czech Republic' >Czech Republic</option><option value='Denmark' >Denmark</option><option value='Djibouti' >Djibouti</option><option value='Dominica' >Dominica</option><option value='Dominican Republic' >Dominican Republic</option><option value='East Timor' >East Timor</option><option value='Ecuador' >Ecuador</option><option value='Egypt' >Egypt</option><option value='El Salvador' >El Salvador</option><option value='Equatorial Guinea' >Equatorial Guinea</option><option value='Eritrea' >Eritrea</option><option value='Estonia' >Estonia</option><option value='Ethiopia' >Ethiopia</option><option value='Falkland Islands (Malvinas)' >Falkland Islands (Malvinas)</option><option value='Faroe Islands' >Faroe Islands</option><option value='Fiji' >Fiji</option><option value='Finland' >Finland</option><option value='Fmr Yugoslav Rep of Macedonia' >Fmr Yugoslav Rep of Macedonia</option><option value='France' >France</option><option value='French Guiana' >French Guiana</option><option value='French Polynesia' >French Polynesia</option><option value='French Southern Territories' >French Southern Territories</option><option value='Gabon' >Gabon</option><option value='Gambia' >Gambia</option><option value='Georgia' >Georgia</option><option value='Germany' >Germany</option><option value='Ghana' >Ghana</option><option value='Gibraltar' >Gibraltar</option><option value='Greece' >Greece</option><option value='Greenland' >Greenland</option><option value='Grenada' >Grenada</option><option value='Guadeloupe' >Guadeloupe</option><option value='Guam' >Guam</option><option value='Guatemala' >Guatemala</option><option value='Guinea' >Guinea</option><option value='Guinea-Bissau' >Guinea-Bissau</option><option value='Guyana' >Guyana</option><option value='Haiti' >Haiti</option><option value='Heard and McDonald Islands' >Heard and McDonald Islands</option><option value='Holy See (Vatican City State)' >Holy See (Vatican City State)</option><option value='Honduras' >Honduras</option><option value='Hong Kong' >Hong Kong</option><option value='Hungary' >Hungary</option><option value='Iceland' >Iceland</option><option value='India' >India</option><option value='Indonesia' >Indonesia</option><option value='Iran (Islamic Republic Of)' >Iran (Islamic Republic Of)</option><option value='Iraq' >Iraq</option><option value='Ireland' >Ireland</option><option value='Israel' >Israel</option><option value='Italy' >Italy</option><option value='Jamaica' >Jamaica</option><option value='Japan' >Japan</option><option value='Jordan' >Jordan</option><option value='Kazakstan' >Kazakstan</option><option value='Kenya' >Kenya</option><option value='Kiribati' >Kiribati</option><option value='Korea, Democratic People's Rep' >Korea, Democratic People's Rep</option><option value='Korea, Republic of' >Korea, Republic of</option><option value='Kuwait' >Kuwait</option><option value='Kyrgyzstan' >Kyrgyzstan</option><option value='Lao People's Democratic Rep' >Lao People's Democratic Rep</option><option value='Latvia' >Latvia</option><option value='Lebanon' >Lebanon</option><option value='Lesotho' >Lesotho</option><option value='Liberia' >Liberia</option><option value='Libyan Arab Jamahiriya' >Libyan Arab Jamahiriya</option><option value='Liechtenstein' >Liechtenstein</option><option value='Lithuania' >Lithuania</option><option value='Luxembourg' >Luxembourg</option><option value='Macau' >Macau</option><option value='Madagascar' >Madagascar</option><option value='Malawi' >Malawi</option><option value='Malaysia' >Malaysia</option><option value='Maldives' >Maldives</option><option value='Mali' >Mali</option><option value='Malta' >Malta</option><option value='Marshall Islands' >Marshall Islands</option><option value='Martinique' >Martinique</option><option value='Mauritania' >Mauritania</option><option value='Mauritius' >Mauritius</option><option value='Mayotte' >Mayotte</option><option value='Mexico' >Mexico</option><option value='Micronesia, Federated States' >Micronesia, Federated States</option><option value='Moldova, Republic of' >Moldova, Republic of</option><option value='Monaco' >Monaco</option><option value='Mongolia' >Mongolia</option><option value='Montserrat' >Montserrat</option><option value='Morocco' >Morocco</option><option value='Mozambique' >Mozambique</option><option value='Myanmar' >Myanmar</option><option value='Namibia' >Namibia</option><option value='Nauru' >Nauru</option><option value='Nepal' >Nepal</option><option value='Netherlands' >Netherlands</option><option value='Netherlands Antilles' >Netherlands Antilles</option><option value='New Caledonia' >New Caledonia</option><option value='New Zealand' >New Zealand</option><option value='Nicaragua' >Nicaragua</option><option value='Niger' >Niger</option><option value='Nigeria' >Nigeria</option><option value='Niue' >Niue</option><option value='Norfolk Island' >Norfolk Island</option><option value='Northern Mariana Islands' >Northern Mariana Islands</option><option value='Norway' >Norway</option><option value='Oman' >Oman</option><option value='Pakistan' >Pakistan</option><option value='Palau' >Palau</option><option value='Panama' >Panama</option><option value='Papua New Guinea' >Papua New Guinea</option><option value='Paraguay' >Paraguay</option><option value='Peru' >Peru</option><option value='Philippines' >Philippines</option><option value='Pitcairn' >Pitcairn</option><option value='Poland' >Poland</option><option value='Portugal' >Portugal</option><option value='Puerto Rico' >Puerto Rico</option><option value='Qatar' >Qatar</option><option value='Reunion' >Reunion</option><option value='Romania' >Romania</option><option value='Russian Federation' >Russian Federation</option><option value='Rwanda' >Rwanda</option><option value='Saint Helena' >Saint Helena</option><option value='Saint Kitts and Nevis' >Saint Kitts and Nevis</option><option value='Saint Lucia' >Saint Lucia</option><option value='Saint Pierre and Miquelon' >Saint Pierre and Miquelon</option><option value='Samoa' >Samoa</option><option value='San Marino' >San Marino</option><option value='Sao Tome and Principe' >Sao Tome and Principe</option><option value='Saudi Arabia' >Saudi Arabia</option><option value='Senegal' >Senegal</option><option value='Seychelles' >Seychelles</option><option value='Sierra Leone' >Sierra Leone</option><option value='Singapore' >Singapore</option><option value='Slovakia' >Slovakia</option><option value='Slovenia' >Slovenia</option><option value='Solomon Islands' >Solomon Islands</option><option value='Somalia' >Somalia</option><option value='South Africa' >South Africa</option><option value='Spain' >Spain</option><option value='Sri Lanka' >Sri Lanka</option><option value='Sth Georgia & Sth Sandwich Is' >Sth Georgia & Sth Sandwich Is</option><option value='St Vincent and the Grenadines' >St Vincent and the Grenadines</option><option value='Sudan' >Sudan</option><option value='Suriname' >Suriname</option><option value='Svalbard and Jan Mayen' >Svalbard and Jan Mayen</option><option value='Swaziland' >Swaziland</option><option value='Sweden' >Sweden</option><option value='Switzerland' >Switzerland</option><option value='Syrian Arab Republic' >Syrian Arab Republic</option><option value='Taiwan, Province of China' >Taiwan, Province of China</option><option value='Tajikistan' >Tajikistan</option><option value='Tanzania, United Republic of' >Tanzania, United Republic of</option><option value='Thailand' >Thailand</option><option value='Togo' >Togo</option><option value='Tokelau' >Tokelau</option><option value='Tonga' >Tonga</option><option value='Trinidad and Tobago' >Trinidad and Tobago</option><option value='Tunisia' >Tunisia</option><option value='Turkey' >Turkey</option><option value='Turkmenistan' >Turkmenistan</option><option value='Turks and Caicos Islands' >Turks and Caicos Islands</option><option value='Tuvalu' >Tuvalu</option><option value='Uganda' >Uganda</option><option value='Ukraine' >Ukraine</option><option value='United Arab Emirates' >United Arab Emirates</option><option value='United Kingdom' >United Kingdom</option><option value='Uruguay' >Uruguay</option><option value='US Minor Outlying Islands' >US Minor Outlying Islands</option><option value='Uzbekistan' >Uzbekistan</option><option value='Vanuatu' >Vanuatu</option><option value='Venezuela' >Venezuela</option><option value='Vietnam' >Vietnam</option><option value='Virgin Islands (British)' >Virgin Islands (British)</option><option value='Virgin Islands (U.S.)' >Virgin Islands (U.S.)</option><option value='Wallis and Futuna Islands' >Wallis and Futuna Islands</option><option value='Western Sahara' >Western Sahara</option><option value='Yemen' >Yemen</option><option value='Yugoslavia' >Yugoslavia</option><option value='Zambia' >Zambia</option><option value='Zimbabwe' >Zimbabwe</option></select></div></li><li id="field_1_8" class="gfield gfield--type-select sub-category gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_above gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_1_8" ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label screen-reader-text' for='input_1_8'>Pick a category<span class="gfield_required"><span class="gfield_required gfield_required_asterisk">*</span></span></label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_select'><select name='input_8' id='input_1_8' class='large gfield_select' aria-required="true" aria-invalid="false" ><option value='' selected='selected' class='gf_placeholder'>Pick a category</option><option value='Accelerating Microscopy' >Accelerating Microscopy</option><option value='Advancing Materials' >Advancing Materials</option><option value='Advancing Mining' >Advancing Mining</option><option value='Analyzing Metals' >Analyzing Metals</option><option value='Behind the Bench' selected='selected'>Behind the Bench</option><option value='Examining Food' >Examining Food</option><option value='Identifying Threats' >Identifying Threats</option><option value='Life in the Lab' >Life in the Lab</option></select></div></li><li id="field_1_9" class="gfield gfield--type-checkbox gfield--type-choice gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_above gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_1_9" ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label screen-reader-text gfield_label_before_complex' ><span class="gfield_required"><span class="gfield_required gfield_required_asterisk">*</span></span></label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_checkbox'><ul class='gfield_checkbox' id='input_1_9'><li class='gchoice gchoice_1_9_1'> <input class='gfield-choice-input' name='input_9.1' type='checkbox' value='1' id='choice_1_9_1' /> <label for='choice_1_9_1' id='label_1_9_1' class='gform-field-label gform-field-label--type-inline'>I would like to receive information about content, events, products, services and promotions from Thermo Fisher Scientific and its affiliates. I agree for the Thermo Fisher Scientific group (thermofisher.com/legalentities) to contact me by email and/or telephone to inform me of events, products, services and/or promotions offered in connection with the brands Thermo Scientific™, Applied Biosystems™, Invitrogen™, Gibco™, Ion Torrent ™, Unity Lab Services™, Fisher Scientifc™. I can withdraw my consent and unsubscribe at any time by emailing reply@thermofisher.com By submitting my data, I give consent to the collection, processing and use of my personal data in accordance with the Thermo Fisher Scientific Policy (thermofisher.com/privacypolicy).</label> </li></ul></div></li><li id="field_1_10" class="gfield gfield--type-hidden gform_hidden field_sublabel_above gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_1_10" ><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_10' id='input_1_10' type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' aria-invalid="false" value='Behind the Bench' /></div></li><li id="field_1_11" class="gfield gfield--type-honeypot gform_validation_container field_sublabel_above gfield--has-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible" data-js-reload="field_1_11" ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_1_11'>Email</label><div class='ginput_container'><input name='input_11' id='input_1_11' type='text' value='' autocomplete='new-password'/></div><div class='gfield_description' id='gfield_description_1_11'>This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.</div></li></ul></div> <div class='gform_footer top_label'> <input type='submit' id='gform_submit_button_1' class='gform_button button' value='Subscribe' onclick='if(window["gf_submitting_1"]){return false;} if( !jQuery("#gform_1")[0].checkValidity || jQuery("#gform_1")[0].checkValidity()){window["gf_submitting_1"]=true;} ' onkeypress='if( event.keyCode == 13 ){ if(window["gf_submitting_1"]){return false;} if( !jQuery("#gform_1")[0].checkValidity || jQuery("#gform_1")[0].checkValidity()){window["gf_submitting_1"]=true;} jQuery("#gform_1").trigger("submit",[true]); }' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='is_submit_1' value='1' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_submit' value='1' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_unique_id' value='' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='state_1' value='WyJbXSIsImFiYmI5YzY2YWJjNDlmYzYwZjUzMTBiZjQ0NGIwZGNmIl0=' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_target_page_number_1' id='gform_target_page_number_1' value='0' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_source_page_number_1' id='gform_source_page_number_1' value='1' /> <input type='hidden' name='gform_field_values' value='' /> </div> <p style="display: none !important;" class="akismet-fields-container" data-prefix="ak_"><label>Δ<textarea name="ak_hp_textarea" cols="45" rows="8" maxlength="100"></textarea></label><input type="hidden" id="ak_js_3" name="ak_js" value="101"/><script>document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );</script></p></form> </div><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ gform.initializeOnLoaded( function() {gformInitSpinner( 1, 'https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/images/spinner.svg', true );jQuery('#gform_ajax_frame_1').on('load',function(){var contents = jQuery(this).contents().find('*').html();var is_postback = contents.indexOf('GF_AJAX_POSTBACK') >= 0;if(!is_postback){return;}var form_content = jQuery(this).contents().find('#gform_wrapper_1');var is_confirmation = jQuery(this).contents().find('#gform_confirmation_wrapper_1').length > 0;var is_redirect = contents.indexOf('gformRedirect(){') >= 0;var is_form = form_content.length > 0 && ! is_redirect && ! is_confirmation;var mt = parseInt(jQuery('html').css('margin-top'), 10) + parseInt(jQuery('body').css('margin-top'), 10) + 100;if(is_form){jQuery('#gform_wrapper_1').html(form_content.html());if(form_content.hasClass('gform_validation_error')){jQuery('#gform_wrapper_1').addClass('gform_validation_error');} else {jQuery('#gform_wrapper_1').removeClass('gform_validation_error');}setTimeout( function() { /* delay the scroll by 50 milliseconds to fix a bug in chrome */ }, 50 );if(window['gformInitDatepicker']) {gformInitDatepicker();}if(window['gformInitPriceFields']) {gformInitPriceFields();}var current_page = jQuery('#gform_source_page_number_1').val();gformInitSpinner( 1, 'https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/images/spinner.svg', true );jQuery(document).trigger('gform_page_loaded', [1, current_page]);window['gf_submitting_1'] = false;}else if(!is_redirect){var confirmation_content = jQuery(this).contents().find('.GF_AJAX_POSTBACK').html();if(!confirmation_content){confirmation_content = contents;}jQuery('#gform_wrapper_1').replaceWith(confirmation_content);jQuery(document).trigger('gform_confirmation_loaded', [1]);window['gf_submitting_1'] = false;wp.a11y.speak(jQuery('#gform_confirmation_message_1').text());}else{jQuery('#gform_1').append(contents);if(window['gformRedirect']) {gformRedirect();}}jQuery(document).trigger("gform_pre_post_render", [{ formId: "1", currentPage: "current_page", abort: function() { this.preventDefault(); } }]); if (event && event.defaultPrevented) { return; } const gformWrapperDiv = document.getElementById( "gform_wrapper_1" ); if ( gformWrapperDiv ) { const visibilitySpan = document.createElement( "span" ); visibilitySpan.id = "gform_visibility_test_1"; gformWrapperDiv.insertAdjacentElement( "afterend", visibilitySpan ); } const visibilityTestDiv = document.getElementById( "gform_visibility_test_1" ); let postRenderFired = false; function triggerPostRender() { if ( postRenderFired ) { return; } postRenderFired = true; jQuery( document ).trigger( 'gform_post_render', [1, current_page] ); gform.utils.trigger( { event: 'gform/postRender', native: false, data: { formId: 1, currentPage: current_page } } ); if ( visibilityTestDiv ) { visibilityTestDiv.parentNode.removeChild( visibilityTestDiv ); } } function debounce( func, wait, immediate ) { var timeout; return function() { var context = this, args = arguments; var later = function() { timeout = null; if ( !immediate ) func.apply( context, args ); }; var callNow = immediate && !timeout; clearTimeout( timeout ); timeout = setTimeout( later, wait ); if ( callNow ) func.apply( context, args ); }; } const debouncedTriggerPostRender = debounce( function() { triggerPostRender(); }, 200 ); if ( visibilityTestDiv && visibilityTestDiv.offsetParent === null ) { const observer = new MutationObserver( ( mutations ) => { mutations.forEach( ( mutation ) => { if ( mutation.type === 'attributes' && visibilityTestDiv.offsetParent !== null ) { debouncedTriggerPostRender(); observer.disconnect(); } }); }); observer.observe( document.body, { attributes: true, childList: false, subtree: true, attributeFilter: [ 'style', 'class' ], }); } else { triggerPostRender(); } } );} ); /* ]]> */ </script> </div> </div></div><script>if(window.location.search.indexOf('post_id')!=-1){ window.close();}jQuery(document).ready(function ($) { $('p').mashSelectionSharer();});</script>  <script type="text/html" id="wpls--tmpl"> <li class="search-result"> <a href="<%= post.link %>"> <div class="wpls--item-title-wrap"> <h4 class="wpls--item-title"><%= post.title %></h4> </div> </a> </li> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> /* MonsterInsights Scroll Tracking */ if ( typeof(jQuery) !== 'undefined' ) { jQuery( document ).ready(function(){ function monsterinsights_scroll_tracking_load() { if ( ( typeof(__gaTracker) !== 'undefined' && __gaTracker && __gaTracker.hasOwnProperty( "loaded" ) && __gaTracker.loaded == true ) || ( typeof(__gtagTracker) !== 'undefined' && __gtagTracker ) ) { (function(factory) { factory(jQuery); }(function($) { /* Scroll Depth */ "use strict"; var defaults = { percentage: true }; var $window = $(window), cache = [], scrollEventBound = false, lastPixelDepth = 0; /* * Plugin */ $.scrollDepth = function(options) { var startTime = +new Date(); options = $.extend({}, defaults, options); /* * Functions */ function sendEvent(action, label, scrollDistance, timing) { if ( 'undefined' === typeof MonsterInsightsObject || 'undefined' === typeof MonsterInsightsObject.sendEvent ) { return; } var paramName = action.toLowerCase(); var fieldsArray = { send_to: 'G-K4QTN4KM25', non_interaction: true }; fieldsArray[paramName] = label; if (arguments.length > 3) { fieldsArray.scroll_timing = timing MonsterInsightsObject.sendEvent('event', 'scroll_depth', fieldsArray); } else { MonsterInsightsObject.sendEvent('event', 'scroll_depth', fieldsArray); } } function calculateMarks(docHeight) { return { '25%' : parseInt(docHeight * 0.25, 10), '50%' : parseInt(docHeight * 0.50, 10), '75%' : parseInt(docHeight * 0.75, 10), /* Cushion to trigger 100% event in iOS */ '100%': docHeight - 5 }; } function checkMarks(marks, scrollDistance, timing) { /* Check each active mark */ $.each(marks, function(key, val) { if ( $.inArray(key, cache) === -1 && scrollDistance >= val ) { sendEvent('Percentage', key, scrollDistance, timing); cache.push(key); } }); } function rounded(scrollDistance) { /* Returns String */ return (Math.floor(scrollDistance/250) * 250).toString(); } function init() { bindScrollDepth(); } /* * Public Methods */ /* Reset Scroll Depth with the originally initialized options */ $.scrollDepth.reset = function() { cache = []; lastPixelDepth = 0; $window.off('scroll.scrollDepth'); bindScrollDepth(); }; /* Add DOM elements to be tracked */ $.scrollDepth.addElements = function(elems) { if (typeof elems == "undefined" || !$.isArray(elems)) { return; } $.merge(options.elements, elems); /* If scroll event has been unbound from window, rebind */ if (!scrollEventBound) { bindScrollDepth(); } }; /* Remove DOM elements currently tracked */ $.scrollDepth.removeElements = function(elems) { if (typeof elems == "undefined" || !$.isArray(elems)) { return; } $.each(elems, function(index, elem) { var inElementsArray = $.inArray(elem, options.elements); var inCacheArray = $.inArray(elem, cache); if (inElementsArray != -1) { options.elements.splice(inElementsArray, 1); } if (inCacheArray != -1) { cache.splice(inCacheArray, 1); } }); }; /* * Throttle function borrowed from: * Underscore.js 1.5.2 * http://underscorejs.org * (c) 2009-2013 Jeremy Ashkenas, DocumentCloud and Investigative Reporters & Editors * Underscore may be freely distributed under the MIT license. */ function throttle(func, wait) { var context, args, result; var timeout = null; var previous = 0; var later = function() { previous = new Date; timeout = null; result = func.apply(context, args); }; return function() { var now = new Date; if (!previous) previous = now; var remaining = wait - (now - previous); context = this; args = arguments; if (remaining <= 0) { clearTimeout(timeout); timeout = null; previous = now; result = func.apply(context, args); } else if (!timeout) { timeout = setTimeout(later, remaining); } return result; }; } /* * Scroll Event */ function bindScrollDepth() { scrollEventBound = true; $window.on('scroll.scrollDepth', throttle(function() { /* * We calculate document and window height on each scroll event to * account for dynamic DOM changes. */ var docHeight = $(document).height(), winHeight = window.innerHeight ? window.innerHeight : $window.height(), scrollDistance = $window.scrollTop() + winHeight, /* Recalculate percentage marks */ marks = calculateMarks(docHeight), /* Timing */ timing = +new Date - startTime; checkMarks(marks, scrollDistance, timing); }, 500)); } init(); }; /* UMD export */ return $.scrollDepth; })); jQuery.scrollDepth(); } else { setTimeout(monsterinsights_scroll_tracking_load, 200); } } monsterinsights_scroll_tracking_load(); }); } /* End MonsterInsights Scroll Tracking */ </script><script type="text/javascript" id="wpls-script-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var wp_search_vars = {"helperText":"one more character","api":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/wp-json\/as\/v1\/all-posts\/9"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/wp-search-live/public/assets/js/wp-live-search.js?ver=0.9" id="wpls-script-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog//wp-includes/js/comment-reply.min.js?ver=6.6.1" id="comment-reply-js" async="async" data-wp-strategy="async"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog//wp-includes/js/dist/dom-ready.min.js?ver=f77871ff7694fffea381" id="wp-dom-ready-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog//wp-includes/js/dist/hooks.min.js?ver=2810c76e705dd1a53b18" id="wp-hooks-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog//wp-includes/js/dist/i18n.min.js?ver=5e580eb46a90c2b997e6" id="wp-i18n-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="wp-i18n-js-after"> /* <![CDATA[ */ wp.i18n.setLocaleData( { 'text direction\u0004ltr': [ 'ltr' ] } ); /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog//wp-includes/js/dist/a11y.min.js?ver=d90eebea464f6c09bfd5" id="wp-a11y-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" defer='defer' src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/js/placeholders.jquery.min.js?ver=2.8.17" id="gform_placeholder-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" defer='defer' src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/assets/js/dist/vendor-theme.min.js?ver=54e7080aa7a02c83aa61fae430b9d869" id="gform_gravityforms_theme_vendors-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="gform_gravityforms_theme-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var gform_theme_config = {"common":{"form":{"honeypot":{"version_hash":"4a792b070322e711c2521ee9802c04ea"}}},"hmr_dev":"","public_path":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/behindthebench\/wp-content\/plugins\/gravityforms\/assets\/js\/dist\/"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" defer='defer' src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/gravityforms/assets/js/dist/scripts-theme.min.js?ver=bab19fd84843dabc070e73326d787910" id="gform_gravityforms_theme-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog//wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/core.min.js?ver=1.13.3" id="jquery-ui-core-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog//wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/tabs.min.js?ver=1.13.3" id="jquery-ui-tabs-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/themes/accelerating-science-blogs/js/scripts.js?ver=1.2.9.3" id="scripts-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" id="boxzilla-js-extra"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var boxzilla_options = {"testMode":"","boxes":[{"id":10626,"icon":"×","content":"","css":{"position":"bottom-right"},"trigger":{"method":"percentage","value":35},"animation":"fade","cookie":{"triggered":0,"dismissed":0},"rehide":false,"position":"bottom-right","screenWidthCondition":null,"closable":true,"post":{"id":10626,"title":"Single Call to Action","slug":"single-call-to-action"}}]}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/boxzilla/assets/js/script.js?ver=3.3.1" id="boxzilla-js"></script> <script defer type="text/javascript" src="https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/behindthebench/wp-content/plugins/akismet/_inc/akismet-frontend.js?ver=1722950842" id="akismet-frontend-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ gform.initializeOnLoaded( function() { jQuery(document).on('gform_post_render', function(event, formId, currentPage){if(formId == 1) {gformInitChosenFields('#input_1_7,#input_1_8','No results matched');if(typeof Placeholders != 'undefined'){ Placeholders.enable(); }} } );jQuery(document).on('gform_post_conditional_logic', function(event, formId, fields, isInit){gformInitChosenFields('#input_1_7,#input_1_8','No results matched');} ) } ); /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ gform.initializeOnLoaded( function() {jQuery(document).trigger("gform_pre_post_render", [{ formId: "1", currentPage: "1", abort: function() { this.preventDefault(); } }]); if (event && event.defaultPrevented) { return; } const gformWrapperDiv = document.getElementById( "gform_wrapper_1" ); if ( gformWrapperDiv ) { const visibilitySpan = document.createElement( "span" ); visibilitySpan.id = "gform_visibility_test_1"; gformWrapperDiv.insertAdjacentElement( "afterend", visibilitySpan ); } const visibilityTestDiv = document.getElementById( "gform_visibility_test_1" ); let postRenderFired = false; function triggerPostRender() { if ( postRenderFired ) { return; } postRenderFired = true; jQuery( document ).trigger( 'gform_post_render', [1, 1] ); gform.utils.trigger( { event: 'gform/postRender', native: false, data: { formId: 1, currentPage: 1 } } ); if ( visibilityTestDiv ) { visibilityTestDiv.parentNode.removeChild( visibilityTestDiv ); } } function debounce( func, wait, immediate ) { var timeout; return function() { var context = this, args = arguments; var later = function() { timeout = null; if ( !immediate ) func.apply( context, args ); }; var callNow = immediate && !timeout; clearTimeout( timeout ); timeout = setTimeout( later, wait ); if ( callNow ) func.apply( context, args ); }; } const debouncedTriggerPostRender = debounce( function() { triggerPostRender(); }, 200 ); if ( visibilityTestDiv && visibilityTestDiv.offsetParent === null ) { const observer = new MutationObserver( ( mutations ) => { mutations.forEach( ( mutation ) => { if ( mutation.type === 'attributes' && visibilityTestDiv.offsetParent !== null ) { debouncedTriggerPostRender(); observer.disconnect(); } }); }); observer.observe( document.body, { attributes: true, childList: false, subtree: true, attributeFilter: [ 'style', 'class' ], }); } else { triggerPostRender(); } } ); /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/-JVF2Mt77XrPue0oWQ_DN-r_/XEYukNG8mrG8EimE/LFhk/MBsdTQN/rVQM"></script></body></html>