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. 2020 Jul:128:104432.
doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2020.104432. Epub 2020 May 15.

Preparedness of European diagnostic microbiology labs for detection of SARS-CoV-2, March 2020

Veerle Matheeussen  1 , Katherine Loens  2 , Christine Lammens  3 , Tuba Vilken  3 , Marion Koopmans  4 , Herman Goossens  2 , Margareta Ieven  3 ; RECOVER consortium
Affiliations

Preparedness of European diagnostic microbiology labs for detection of SARS-CoV-2, March 2020

Veerle Matheeussen et al. J Clin Virol. 2020 Jul.

Abstract

Background: To track the European spread of SARS-CoV-2, decentralized testing became necessary and test capacity needed to be expanded outside reference laboratories rapidly.

Methods: We assessed via an online questionnaire the preparedness of European hospital laboratories for detection of SARS-CoV-2 and listed the main drawbacks for implementation.

Results: Forty-five percent of the surveyed labs had a test in place by March 26th which is well into the first wave of the pandemic in most countries.

Conclusions: The main implementation barriers for introduction of a SARSCoV-2 molecular assay in European diagnostic laboratories were availability of positive controls and a specificity panel.

Keywords: COVID; Molecular test; Pandemic; SARS-CoV-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest None.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
routine molecular testing for respiratory viruses in participating laboratories (n = 87).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Plans and realizations considering SARS-CoV-2 molecular testing and timeframe for implementation in participating laboratories.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Sample types, turn-around-time (TAT), daily capacity and external quality control or SARS-CoV-2 molecular testing in participating laboratories (n = 72).
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Main challenges for implementation of a SARS-CoV-2 molecular test in participating laboratories (n = 85).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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