Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34337384›Full record

ArticleClinical infection in practice2021

Clinical utility of a rapid 'on-demand' laboratory-based SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing service in an acute hospital setting admitting COVID-19 patients.

Fiona Yau, Rosalina Ferreira, Rima Kamali, Paul W Bird, Richard Halliwell, Hemu Patel, Daniela C Nicoara, Gerrit Woltmann, Julian W Tang

Abstract read
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Article in Clinical infection in practice, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Fiona YauClinical Microbiology, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
Rosalina FerreiraClinical Microbiology, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
Rima KamaliClinical Microbiology, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
Paul W BirdClinical Microbiology, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
Richard HalliwellClinical Microbiology, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
Hemu PatelClinical Microbiology, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
Daniela C NicoaraClinical Decisions Unit, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
Gerrit WoltmannClinical Decisions Unit, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
Julian W TangClinical Microbiology, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWith the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, hospital clinical teams have realised that there is a need for a rapid, accurate testing facility that will allow them to move patients quickly into isolation rooms or specific COVID-19 cohort wards as soon as possible after admission.

methodsStarting from July 2020, PCR-based test platforms, which could test 4-8 samples in parallel with turnaround (sample-to-result) times of 50-80 min, were placed in a satellite laboratory. This laboratory was on the same floor and within walking distance to the acute respiratory admissions ward. It was staffed by a team of three mid-Band 4 staff that split a 0700-2200 h-work day, 7 days a week, with 2 senior supervisors. Urgent sample testing was decided upon by the clinical teams and requested by phone. The test results were entered manually in real-time as they became available, and sent electronically to the requesting ward teams.

resultsThe daily/monthly PCR positive test numbers approximately followed the local and national UK trend in COVID-19 case numbers, with the daily case numbers being reflective of the November and December 2020 surges. Test results were used to rapidly segregate positive patients into dedicated COVID-19 ward areas to minimise risk of potential nosocomial transmission in crowded waiting areas. Testing capacity was sufficient to include cases with uncertain diagnosis likely to require hospital admission. Following completion of other admission processes, based on these rapid test results, patients were allocated to dedicated COVID-19 positive or negative cohort wards.

conclusionsThis rapid testing facility reduced unnecessary 'length-of-stay' in a busy acute respiratory ward. In the current absence of a treatment for mild-to-moderate COVID-19, on which patients could be discharged home to complete, the rapid test facility has become a successful aid to patient flow and reduced exposure and nosocomial transmission.

Indexed as

COVID-19DiagnosticsInfection controlNosocomial transmissionPatient flowRapid testingSARS-CoV-2Triage

Identifiers

PMID34337384
PMCPMC8316982

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.