If anyone else wants to start a bootleg test lab, there's a disposition auction next week for a defunct biotech startup with most of what you'll need: https://svdisposition.com/auction-detail?id=281
You need processes in place that ensure that these types of contamination are prevented, and constantly checked for. You need a very robust pipeline from sample collection to result dissemination that ensure no mix ups.
All these things are possible, but PCR is ultrasensitive and processes are hard; you could have a huge amount of false results if not very very careful.
The real problem seems to be the kit-cowboys who have no idea how to do anything unless it comes out of a kit.
- What bits of equipment would I need? (Generally speaking, not specific to what's in this auction lot)
- What reagents are needed? Where can I get them (both as a general rule, and also specifically given likely huge shortages)?
- How do I actually test for this?
- What do I watch out for to try and mitigate false positives and negatives?
I ask as someone
- completely naive - in the sense of "oh this sounds interesting and easy to do!" :)
- objectively absolutely underqualified to even think about doing this
- incapable of affording any of the equipment
so by all means feed me answers describing how impossibly hard and stupid this is to do, and pretend I'm not serious.
Also, as an aside, it'll be fun to watch the bid price on this. I wonder how statistically above average it'll be. Heh.
Curious what your thoughts are on the value - what markdown from market price can one typically expect?