System For Genetic Surveillance and Analysis

Abstract

A genetic surveillance system comprises a communications network and at least one reader-analyzer instrument. The reader-analyzer instrument has a communication interface to communicate over the network. The reader-analyzer instrument is adapted to perform genetic assay analysis of a sample obtained from a member of a population and to generate detection-related data based upon the analysis. The reader-analyzer instrument is adapted to associate qualifying information with the detection-related data and to communicate the associated qualifying information and detection-related data over the network.

1 . An genetic surveillance information system, comprising:
 a communications network;   at least one reader-analyzer instrument having communication interface to communicate over said network;   said reader-analyzer instrument being adapted to perform genetic assay analysis of a sample obtained from an individual member of a population and to generate genetic surveillance-related data based on said analysis;   said reader-analyzer instrument being adapted to associate spatial information and temporal information with said genetic surveillance-related data and to communicate said spatial information and temporal information associated with said genetic surveillance-related data over said network.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a database system communicating with said network and configured to store said spatial information and temporal information with associated said genetic surveillance-related data as information reflecting the status of said population. 
     
     
         3 . A system to provide data to a laboratory response network according to  claim 1  further comprising a software system that provides an interface between said laboratory response network and said network whereby said spatial information and temporal information with associated said genetic surveillance-related data is made available to said laboratory response network. 
     
     
         4 . A system to provide data to a laboratory response network according to  claim 2  further comprising a software system that provides an interface between said laboratory response network and said database whereby said spatial information and temporal information with associated said genetic surveillance-related data is made available to said laboratory response network. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said reader-analyzer is a portable instrument. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said reader-analyzer is adapted to process samples carried on a card having genetic assay materials carried thereon and adapted to be inserted into said reader-analyzer. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said reader-analyzer instrument performs PCR analysis. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said reader-analyzer instrument includes at least one hybridization array. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said reader-analyzer instrument is adapted for bidirectional communication. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of said reader-analyzer instruments adapted for peer-to-peer communication with one another. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said reader-analyzer instrument is adapted to receive control instructions via said network. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said reader-analyzer instrument is adapted to alter the manner in which said genetic surveillance-related data are generated based on information received by said reader-analyzer over said network. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising integrated sample preparation module to process said sample prior to analysis by said reader-analyzer instrument. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said integrated sample preparation module has a communication interface to communicate over said network. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said integrated sample preparation module is adapted to receive control instructions via said network. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said integrated sample preparation module is adapted to alter the manner in which said sample is processed based on information received by said sample preparation module over said network. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said integrated sample preparation module manipulates at least one assay. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said integrated sample preparation module manipulates at least one assay, and wherein said integrated sample preparation module is adapted to alter the manner in which said assay manipulation is performed based on information received by said sample preparation module over said network. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising data identifying a presence or absence of at least one pathogenic organism. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein said data is collected from analysis of at least one target sequence related to the at least one pathogenic organism. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising obtaining demographic information from said individual member of a population. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said demographic information is associated with said spatial information, said temporal information and said genetic surveillance-related data. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a database on electronic media operable for storing and analyzing said spatial information and temporal information with associated said genetic surveillance-related data retrieve from said network. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an algorithm for predicting potential danger to the population based on said spatial information and temporal information with associated said genetic surveillance-related data. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a learning algorithm for determining validity of new data based on lessons learn from said spatial information and temporal information with associated said genetic surveillance-related data. 
     
     
         26 . A method of performing genetic surveillance, comprising:
 using at least one reader-analyzer instrument to perform genetic assay analysis of a sample obtained from an individual member of a population and to generate genetic surveillance-related data based on said analysis;   associating spatial information and temporal information with said genetic surveillance-related data; and   communicating said spatial information and temporal information associated with said genetic surveillance-related data over a network using said reader-analyzer instrument to effect said communication.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising storing said spatial information and temporal information with associated said genetic surveillance-related data in a database as information reflecting the status of said population. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising communicating said spatial information and temporal information associated with said genetic surveillance-related data to a laboratory response network. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising using at least one portable reader-analyzer instrument to perform genetic assay analysis of said sample. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising communicating said spatial information and temporal information associated with said genetic surveillance-related data from a first reader-analyzer instrument to a second reader-analyzer instrument. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein said communication from a first reader-analyzer instrument to a second reader-analyzer instrument is effected peer-to-peer. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising sending control instructions to said at least one reader-analyzer instrument via said network. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising altering the manner in which said genetic surveillance-related data are generated based on information received by said reader-analyzer over said network. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising performing sample preparation steps on said sample based on information received over said network. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein said sample preparation steps include manipulation of at least one assay. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34  wherein said sample preparation steps include manipulation of at least one assay and wherein said assay manipulation is performed based on information received over said network. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising generating said surveillance-related data by collecting data identifying a presence or absence of at least one pathogenic organism. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said collecting data step is performed by analyzing at least one target sequence related to the at least one pathogenic organism. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising collecting demographic information from said individual member of a population. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  wherein said demographic information is associated with said spatial information, said temporal information and said genetic surveillance-related data. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising using said spatial information, said temporal information and said genetic surveillance-related data to predict potential danger to the population. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising applying a learning algorithm to said spatial information, said temporal information and said genetic surveillance-related data to validate data acquired subsequent to said generation of surveillance-related data. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said reader-analyzer instrument is associated with an automatic sensing device and the sample obtaining step is performed automatically by said automatic sensing device. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said sample obtaining step is performed by the user of said reader-analyzer instrument. 
     
     
         45 . A computer program product for enabling a networked computer system to perform genetic surveillance, comprising:
 at least one computer readable medium bearing software instructions for enabling predetermined operations, the predetermined operations including:   using at least one reader-analyzer instrument to perform genetic assay analysis of a sample obtained from an individual member of a population and to generate genetic surveillance-related data based on said analysis;   associating spatial information and temporal information with said genetic surveillance-related data; and   communicating said spatial information and temporal information associated with said genetic surveillance-related data over a network using said reader-analyzer instrument to effect said communication.   
     
     
         46 . The computer program product of  claim 45  wherein at least one computer readable medium is associated with said reader-analyzer instrument. 
     
     
         47 . The computer program product of  claim 45  further comprising plural computer readable media bearing software instructions for enabling said predetermined operations, where said plural computer readable media are associated with plural reader-analyzer instruments. 
     
     
         48 . The computer program product of  claim 45  wherein said communicating said spatial information and temporal information associated with said genetic surveillance-related data over a network is effected peer-to-peer. 
     
     
         49 . The computer program product of  claim 45  wherein said software instructions further implement a learning algorithm that uses said spatial information, said temporal information and said genetic surveillance-related data to validate data acquired subsequent to said generation of surveillance-related data.