Requirements for Covid-19 swabbing

Abstract

The declaration of Covid-19 as a global pandemic has warranted the urgent need to test infected individuals to prevent further virus spread. This has led to establishing Covid-19 testing centres within different areas in the community to promote early detection and isolation of cases. In the effort to ensure a safe and efficient testing system, COVID-19 testing guidelines were established. As the pandemic evolved and new evidence emerged, testing guidelines and implementation strategies continued to be developed. The purpose of this study was to review and evaluate existing guidelines on COVID-19 testing and propose recommendations for improving the current local procedures. The study employed a qualitative research design. A literature review of government guidelines relating to Covid-19 testing from government and health institution websites was conducted, and the data gathered was used in a focus group discussion. The review of Covid-19 testing guidelines showed several similarities in how Covid-19 testing is regulated and carried out in Malta compared to other countries. The guidelines were evaluated in the focus group discussion and revealed five major themes: preferred specimen collection, authorisation process, interpretation of test results, prerequisite for staff, and standards for reporting results. Following this, recommendations were developed, which primarily involved strengthening staff training by incorporating a brief explanation of the anatomy of the upper respiratory tract highlighting the differences in the child from the adult, administering a training competency checklist, and involving suppliers or manufacturers of test devices to provide training to staff; and shortening the timeframe for reporting of rapid antigen test results to within 24 hours. The findings from this study highlight the fundamental requirements for Covid-19 testing, which involve (1) specimen collection that confers a high sensitivity in detecting the virus in patient samples, (2) authorised designated premises to carry out Covid-19 testing, (3) approved in-vitro diagnostic devices that provide reliable results, (4) proper interpretation of test results, (5) trained and competent staff that can perform the test, and (6) timely and efficient reporting system.