Impact of on-site compared to off-site testing for severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on duration of isolation and resource utilization

Andrew T Roberts; Gabriella Wong; Despina Kotsanas; Michelle J Francis; Rhonda L Stuart; Maryza Graham; Benjamin A Rogers

Journal article

Impact of on-site compared to off-site testing for severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on duration of isolation and resource utilization

Andrew T Roberts, Gabriella Wong, Despina Kotsanas, Michelle J Francis, Rhonda L Stuart, Maryza Graham, Benjamin A Rogers

INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY | CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS | Published : 2021

DOI: 10.1017/ice.2020.433

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Abstract

Rapid detection and isolation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients is the only means of reducing hospital transmission. We describe the impact of implementation of on-site severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing on reducing turnaround time, isolation duration, pathology test ordering, and antibiotic use in patients who do not have COVID-19.