POINT-OF-CARE TESTING


and monitoring, further enhancing the quality of care.


Summary


The evolving landscape of respiratory diagnostics highlights the pressing need for rapid, accurate and reliable testing, particularly for COVID-19, influenza A and B, and RSV. The integration of advanced POC testing on compact and easy-to-use devices offers a significant advantage, enabling the simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens from a single sample, faster and in closer proximity to patients. This innovation not only streamlines the testing process to alleviate pressures on laboratories, but also ensures that patients receive appropriate care quickly, reducing hospital stays, limiting disease transmission, and ultimately improving outcomes, especially in vulnerable populations.11,12 How the current winter months will unfold is still unknown; however, reports from the southern hemisphere demonstrate elevated rates of influenza and SARS-CoV-2.14


As settings prepare


to step up their testing for the winter pressures, investing in POC testing early – before the season approaches – positions healthcare providers to respond swiftly to respiratory threats, minimising the impact of sudden spikes. By being proactive, they can ensure they are better equipped to handle increased caseloads and to safeguard public health as we head into winter.


The application of POC testing technology is likely to extend beyond respiratory viruses, offering cross- disciplinary benefits in diagnosing and managing a wide range of diseases, from infectious diseases to chronic conditions, enhancing patient care for the right patients at the right time across various medical fields.


References 1 Rocks S, Fozzard K, Issa Z, Boccarini G.


Health care funding. (The Health Foundation, 2024) https://www.health. org.uk/publications/long-reads/health- care-funding


2 UKHSA. Surveillance of influenza and other seasonal respiratory viruses in the UK, winter 2023 to 2024. (Gov.uk, 2024) https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/ surveillance-of-influenza-and-other- seasonal-respiratory-viruses-in-the-uk- winter-2023-to-2024/


3 St John A, Price CP. Existing and Emerging Technologies for Point-of-Care Testing. Clin Biochem Rev. 2014;35(3):155-167.


4 UKHSA. UKHSA data dashboard. (Gov.uk, 2024) https://ukhsa-dashboard. data.gov.uk/


The GeneXpert system’s user-friendly integral touchscreen provides an ideal solution for those with little experience of operating PCR testing to quickly learn how to run protocols.


5 Russell S. New respiratory syncytial virus vaccine to protect millions most at risk this winter. (NHS England, 2024) https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/new- respiratory-syncytial-virus-vaccine-to- protect-millions-most-at-risk-this-winter/


6 Herbert K, Cabling M, Morris S et al. The Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Adults in the UK. (Rand Europe, 2024) https://www.rand.org/randeurope/ research/projects/2024/rsv-uk-cm.html


7 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Flu vaccination: increasing uptake. (London: NICE, 2018) https:// www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng103


8 World Health Organization. Laboratory testing for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in suspected human cases. Interim guidance. (Geneva: WHO, 2020) https://www.who.int/publications/i/ item/10665-331501


9 Sethuraman N, Jeremiah SS, Ryo A. Interpreting Diagnostic Tests for SARS- CoV-2. JAMA. 2020;323(22):2249-2251. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.8259


10 US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Overview of influenza testing methods. (Atlanta: CDC, 2024) https://www.cdc.gov/flu/hcp/testing- methods/


11 Livingstone R, Lin H, Brendish NJ et al. Routine molecular point-of-care testing


WWW.PATHOLOGYINPRACTICE.COM DECEMBER 2024


for SARS-CoV-2 reduces hospital-acquired COVID-19. J Infect. 2022;84(4):558-565. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2022.01.034


12 Stolberg-Stolberg J, Jacob E, Kuehn J et al. COVID-19 rapid molecular point- of-care testing is effective and cost- beneficial for the acute care of trauma patients. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2023;49(1):487-493. doi:10.1007/s00068- 022-02091-x


13 Leung EC, Chow VC, Lee MK, Tang KP, Li DK, Lai RW. Evaluation of the Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2/Flu/RSV Assay for Simultaneous Detection of SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A and B Viruses, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Nasopharyngeal Specimens. J Clin Microbiol. 2021 Mar 19;59(4):e02965-20. doi:10.1128/ JCM.02965-20


14 World Health Organization. Global respiratory virus activity weekly update No. 489. (Geneva: WHO, 2024) https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/ default-source/influenza/influenza- updates/2024/202432_who-respiratory- virus-update_489.pdf?sfvrsn=108ecd6f_3


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