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

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2021 Aug;42(8):1004-1006. doi: 10.1017/ice.2020.433. Epub 2020 Aug 24.

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.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 Testing
  • COVID-19*
  • Humans
  • SARS-CoV-2