Performing under pressure: Insights into the diagnostic testing burden at a UK national health service clinical virology laboratory during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
Abstract
UK National Health Service (NHS) Clinical Virology Departments provide a repertoire of tests on clinical samples to detect the presence of viral genomic material or host immune responses to viral infection. In December 2019, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged which quickly developed into a global pandemic; NHS laboratories responded rapidly to upscale their testing capabilities. To date, there is little information on the impact of increased SARS-CoV-2 screening on non-SARS-CoV-2 testing within NHS laboratories. This report details the virology test requests received by the Leicester-based NHS Virology laboratory from January 2018 to May 2022. Data show that in spite of a dramatic increase in screening, along with multiple logistic and staffing issues, the Leicester Virology Department was mostly able to maintain the same level of service for non-respiratory virus testing while meeting the new increase in SARS-CoV-2 testing.
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Date
2022-10-12
Type
Article
Subject
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Burden, Diagnostics, Non-SARS-CoV-2, Pandemic, Routine, Testing
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Citation
Bird, P. W., Taylor, G., Cafferata, J., Gardener, J., McMurray, C. L., Fletcher, O., Toovey, O. T. R., Holmes, C. W., & Tang, J. W. (2022). Performing under Pressure: Insights into the Diagnostic Testing Burden at a UK National Health Service Clinical Virology Laboratory during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic. Viruses, 14(10), 2233. https://doi.org/10.3390/v14102233