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Practice Guideline
. 2020 Aug;62(2):176-181.
doi: 10.1002/mus.26990.

Guidance for resumption of routine electrodiagnostic testing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Urvi Desai  1 , Charles D Kassardjian  2 , David Del Toro  3 , Nida Gleveckas-Martens  4 , Jayashri Srinivasan  5 , Deborah Venesy  6 , Pushpa Narayanaswami  7 ; AANEM Quality and Patient Safety Committee
Affiliations
Practice Guideline

Guidance for resumption of routine electrodiagnostic testing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Urvi Desai et al. Muscle Nerve. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

As the world accommodates to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, routine in-person medical services are resuming. The resumption of non urgent electrodiagnostic (EDX) testing faces unique challenges due to the long duration of the procedure and direct close contact with patients, including studies with risk of exposure to oropharyngeal secretions. We provide consensus guidance for resumption of EDX testing, addressing scheduling, patient arrival and registration, use of personal protective equipment, COVID-19 screening and testing, the performance of EDX testing in outpatient and inpatient settings, cleaning and maintenance of the EDX equipment and laboratory, balancing trainee safety and training requirements, and patient care issues. These are broad recommendations that need to be adapted to local COVID-19 risks, institutional guidelines and policies, and changing federal, state, and local regulations, and to changes in the pandemic over time.

Keywords: AANEM; COVID-19; electrodiagnosis; electrodiagnostic testing; nerve conduction study; pandemic.

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Conflict of interest statement

Urvi Desai has received honoraria for speaker bureau or advisory board participation from Alexion, Akcea, Stealth Biotherapeutics, and CSL Behring. Charles Kassardjian has received honoraria or serve on an advisory board for Alexion, Akcea, Takeda, and Sanofi Genzyme. David Del Toro reports no disclosures. Nida Gleveckas‐Martens reports no disclosures. Jayashri Srinivasan reports no disclosures. Deborah Venesy reports no disclosures. Pushpa Narayanaswami has received grant support from the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Momenta Pharmaceuticals, and provided consultation for Alexion, Momenta and Argenx.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Personal protective equipment. COVID‐19 personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare personnel
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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