Laboratory readiness and genomic surveillance of Covid-19 in the capital of Brazil

This study aims to analyze the diagnostic readiness to Covid-19 and the genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Brasília, the capital of Brazil. This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study, with data from: cases/deaths-Ministry of Health; RT-PCR analyses Brasília Central Public Health Laboratory (LACEN); genomics-Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID). It was found that in March 2021, with the Gamma variant was predominant, RT-PCR diagnostic tests administered by LACEN reached their peak, followed by a reduction, possibly due to the start of vaccination. New peaks were observed in September 2021 and January 2022. The average time for releasing RT-PCR results was reduced from eight days (July 2020), to around eight hours in 2023. The participation of private laboratories was evident in sequencing the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in Brasília (n = 1,897). LACEN sequenced 50% of the samples received (571). A decrease in the incidence of cases and deaths due to Covid-19 was noted in the years 2022 to 2023, following the national trend. LACEN maintained RT-PCR diagnostic tests administered satisfactorily throughout the period. Regarding the genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2, the vast majority of samples were sequenced by private laboratories when compared to the public laboratory.