Laboratory practice in the face of Covid-19

Abstract

In December 2019, the COVID-19 outbreak began in Wuhan and quickly spread over the world. Hospitals have had to make drastic changes to normal workflows and practices to handle the current pandemic. Laboratories face unique challenges in the management of the investigation of COVID-19. Not only must we consider the safe collection and delivery of samples, but we must also observe the latest guidelines in testing for the virus. We have introduced several new measures in our laboratory to accommodate the collection and testing of samples for COVID-19 from both within the hospital and external screening sites. These changes encompass the pre-analytical (sample collection, packaging, and delivery), analytical (evaluation, handling and preparation of samples) and post-analytical (result reporting within the hospital and to external bodies) aspects of both routine (biochemistry, haematology, transfusion and urine, stool and body fluid testing) and COVID-19 testing, to ensure the safe and efficient testing of any patient samples. In addition, more practical matters, such as laboratory staffing and continuing staff education, have also been changed to ensure the safety and well-being of laboratory staff. With the implementation of new rules and regulations, we seek to safeguard the health of all healthcare workers while streamlining the workflow for the large amount of testing required during this period. As the pandemic continues, new tests (e.g. COVID-19 serology and IL6 testing for prognosis or monitoring) are being requested, requiring even more changes and assay evaluation before implementation. All laboratories must be ready to adapt to these new challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.