Epidemic Response Laboratory

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists from Opentrons Labworks and NYU Langone have partnered to launch the Pandemic Response Laboratory to increase testing capabilities in New York and provide equitable access to fast, accurate and low-cost testing for all populations detection. PRL opened the New York Lab in August 2020 following a contract with the New York City Economic Development Corporation. Within a month of opening, PRL was able to test 45,000 SARS-CoV-2 patient samples per day and provide 99% results within 24 hours, at significantly reduced costs.

Soon after, PRL established NGS capabilities to begin performing non-diagnostic whole-genome sequencing on 10-20% of all SARS-CoV-2-positive samples to identify and track the spread of new variants of concern and was the first Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants in New York State were detected. PRL expands with the opening of two additional laboratory locations in Rockville, MD and Irvine, CA to serve customers nationwide. Among its many achievements over the past 2.5 years, PRL was able to process more than 11 million SARS-CoV-2 tests across its three CLIA-certified laboratories and upload more than 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences for global sharing Avian Influenza Initiative Data (GISAID) and received CAP accreditation for its New York and Maryland laboratories.

As we enter the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognize that while the pandemic is not over yet, it has entered a new phase. In light of the rapidly changing external environment, we have made the difficult decision to phase out PRL operations effective December 31, 2022 and shift our strategic focus to the delivery of our laboratory services centered on non-clinical laboratory customers. This shift steers our company toward areas where we can have the most significant impact in the most differentiated ways. We will no longer accept samples after 12/27/22 and will reallocate our sequencing core and biomonitoring activities to our sister company Neochromosome's biofoundry business.

We are grateful to everyone who has contributed to making PRL a valuable public health resource and a successful business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

PRL Team