Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39637159›Full record

ArticlePloS one2024

Coordination strategies to improve COVID-19 PCR laboratory testing scale up in Nepal: An analysis.

Hannah Bakker, Arunkumar Govindakarnavar, Parvathy Krishnan Krishnakumari, Joaquim Gromicho, Fannie L Côté, Nadia Lahrichi, Priya Jha, Saugat Shrestha, Rashmi Mulmi, Nirajan Bhusal and 6 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. 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

16 authors.

Hannah BakkerHealth Care Lab, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-9340-5407
Arunkumar GovindakarnavarWorld Health Organization Country Office for Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal.ORCID 0000-0002-3114-0415
Parvathy Krishnan KrishnakumariAnalytics for a Better World, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Joaquim GromichoUniversity of Amsterdam & ORTEC, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands.
Fannie L CôtéCIRRELT & Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
Nadia LahrichiCIRRELT & Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
Priya JhaWorld Health Organization Country Office for Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Saugat ShresthaWorld Health Organization Country Office for Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Rashmi MulmiWorld Health Organization Country Office for Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Nirajan BhusalWorld Health Organization Country Office for Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Deepesh StapithWorld Health Organization Country Office for Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Runa JhaNational Public Health Laboratory, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Lilee ShresthaNational Public Health Laboratory, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Dhamari NaidooWorld Health Organization South East Asia Regional Office (WHOSEARO), New Delhi, India.
Reuben SamuelWorld Health Organization South East Asia Regional Office (WHOSEARO), New Delhi, India.
Victor Del Rio VilasUK-Public Health Rapid Support Team, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom.

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nepal rapidly expanded its PCR testing capacity, essential for effective outbreak response. However, many laboratories faced overwhelming test volumes, resulting in delays that may have hindered containment efforts. This study aims to determine whether these challenges stemmed from capacity limitations and/or imbalanced sample distribution due to inadequate coordination. In this retro-perspective simulation of SARS-CoV-2 testing in Nepal during 2021, we evaluate the impact of coordinated sample transfers on reducing laboratory stress and wait times during demand peaks. Our findings reveal that centralized coordination and strategic partnerships for sample transfers significantly enhance diagnostic network performance, even under high demand. These insights offer valuable guidance for policymakers on implementing effective coordination strategies to strengthen diagnostic networks for future pandemics.

Indexed as

COVID-19COVID-19 Nucleic Acid TestingSARS-CoV-2COVID-19 TestingHumansLaboratoriesNepalPandemics

Identifiers

PMID39637159
PMCPMC11620682

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.