Performing under Pressure: Insights into the Diagnostic Testing Burden at a UK National Health Service Clinical Virology Laboratory during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic |
| |
Authors: | Paul William Bird Georgina Taylor Jessica Cafferata Judi Gardener Claire L. McMurray Oliver Fletcher Oliver T. R. Toovey Christopher W. Holmes Julian W. Tang |
| |
Affiliation: | 1.Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester LE1 5WW, UK;2.Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK |
| |
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. |
| |
Keywords: | COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 pandemic diagnostics non-SARS-CoV-2 routine testing burden |
|
|