Survey of Clinical Laboratory Practices for 2015 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Outbreak in the Republic of Korea.
10.3343/alm.2016.36.2.154
- Author:
Mi Kyung LEE
1
;
Sinyoung KIM
;
Mi Na KIM
;
Oh Joo KWEON
;
Yong Kwan LIM
;
Chang Seok KI
;
Jae Seok KIM
;
Moon Woo SEONG
;
Heungsup SUNG
;
Dongeun YONG
;
Hyukmin LEE
;
Jong Rak CHOI
;
Jeong Ho KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV);
Korea;
Outbreak;
Clinical laboratory;
Preparedness;
Survey
- MeSH:
Clinical Laboratory Services/*standards;
Clinical Laboratory Techniques/instrumentation/methods;
Coronavirus Infections/*diagnosis/epidemiology/virology;
Disease Outbreaks;
Humans;
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus/genetics/isolation & purification;
RNA, Viral/analysis;
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Republic of Korea/epidemiology;
Sputum/virology;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:Annals of Laboratory Medicine
2016;36(2):154-161
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: It is crucial to understand the current status of clinical laboratory practices for the largest outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infections in the Republic of Korea to be well prepared for future emerging infectious diseases. METHODS: We conducted a survey of 49 clinical laboratories in medical institutions and referral medical laboratories. A short questionnaire to survey clinical laboratory practices relating to MERS-CoV diagnostic testing was sent by email to the directors and clinical pathologists in charge of the clinical laboratories performing MERS-CoV testing. The survey focused on testing volume, reporting of results, resources, and laboratory safety. RESULTS: A total of 40 clinical laboratories responded to the survey. A total of 27,009 MERS-CoV real-time reverse transcription PCR (rRT-PCR) tests were performed. Most of the specimens were sputum (73.5%). The median turnaround time (TAT) was 5.29 hr (first and third quartile, 4.11 and 7.48 hr) in 26 medical institutions. The median TAT of more than a half of the laboratories (57.7%) was less than 6 hr. Many laboratories were able to perform tests throughout the whole week. Laboratory biosafety preparedness included class II biosafety cabinets (100%); separated pre-PCR, PCR, and post-PCR rooms (88.6%); negative pressure pretreatment rooms (48.6%); and negative pressure sputum collection rooms (20.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical laboratories were able to quickly expand their diagnostic capacity in response to the 2015 MERS-CoV outbreak. Our results show that clinical laboratories play an important role in the maintenance and enhancement of laboratory response in preparation for future emerging infections.
