POINT-OF-CARE TESTING
and 2,695 people were hospitalised before 29 July, showing that it still poses a significant threat.4
How these numbers
will evolve over the coming months into the 2024/25 winter season remains uncertain, and it is also not possible to predict which SARS-CoV-2 variants might be circulating in the immediate future.
n RSV
Of the four viruses, RSV has historically been the most predictable, with sharp winter peaks that vary little in timing or magnitude, in contrast to influenza infections which are much less predictable in their timing and SARS- CoV-2 which varies in case numbers.2 That being said, the easing of restrictions after the COVID-19 pandemic did somewhat skew case numbers away from the typical winter peak, before returning to a more predictable seasonal pattern over the last few years.2
RSV
substantially impacts babies as nine out of ten will have been infected with RSV before the age of two.5
However,
it can still have devastating impacts in adults, accounting for approximately 600,000 GP visits, 460,000 NHS 111 calls and 24,000 hospital admissions in the UK every year.6
NHS England is
scheduled to roll out an RSV vaccine from September 2024 to those most at risk this winter, which will hopefully help to somewhat combat the burden of this virus.5
The importance of diagnostic testing
Given the unpredictability surrounding the threat of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and B, and RSV in the upcoming winter months, there is a clear need for fast and efficient diagnostic tests. PCR tests are crucial for accurately diagnosing and differentiating between respiratory illnesses that often share overlapping symptoms such as congestion, coughing, malaise, myalgia and fever. Distinguishing between these respiratory pathogens is essential not only for providing appropriate patient care but also for effectively containing outbreaks of these contagious illnesses. Traditional diagnostic testing conducted in a laboratory can lead to unavoidable delays in results, potentially prolonging hospital stays and increasing both the cost of care and the risk of disease transmission between patients. The average cost of hospitalisation from influenza is predicted to be upward of £3,000, so diagnosing or indeed ruling out the virus early could have potential cost- saving benefits for Trusts.7
Laboratories
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are also already under significant strain as they perform tests for a variety of different conditions, and dealing with a sudden increase in respiratory tests during the winter months can be challenging. The need for rapid and accurate results has become even more urgent with the introduction of new antiviral therapies that are most effective when given early. As a result, hospitals have looked
towards POC or near-patient testing for respiratory viruses as a solution to
improve the time to result and alleviate the pressure on central laboratories. POC testing has long been used in hospital environments for routine diagnostics, such as urine testing and blood gas analyses. Recent advances in automation and the robustness of analytical technologies have enabled the adoption of POC PCR testing for a wider range of applications, including the diagnosis of respiratory viruses. The pandemic provided an opportunity to review and identify the
Covering a broad range of genetic variation without compromising accuracy helps to reduce false- negative results and ensure the test continues to be effective as the viruses evolve
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