Balancing Automation and Accuracy: A Comparative Study of SARS-CoV-2 Sequencing Workflows

Evaluation of a Cleveland Clinic-developed SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing (WGS) protocol and Clear Labs’ Clear Dx SARS-CoV-2 WGS v3.0 workflow revealed that both workflows were effective for SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance, generating high-coverage sequences across a range of sample qualities with various pros and cons highlighted. These findings provide valuable insights into workflow selection based on laboratory resources, throughput needs, and surveillance goals.