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Observational Study
. 2023 Feb 1;65(2):125-127.
doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002733. Epub 2022 Oct 17.

A Rapid Nucleic Acid Amplification Test-Based, Conditional Release-to-Work Policy for Health Care Personnel With Symptoms Consistent With COVID-19

Mark A Jacobson  1 , Colin Hart, Will Huen, Griselda Suarez Guardado, Allyson Villanueva, Jeffrey Whitman, Paul D Blanc
Affiliations
Observational Study

A Rapid Nucleic Acid Amplification Test-Based, Conditional Release-to-Work Policy for Health Care Personnel With Symptoms Consistent With COVID-19

Mark A Jacobson et al. J Occup Environ Med. .

Abstract

Objective: Most health care personnel (HCP) reporting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 illness are assessed by high-accuracy SARS-CoV-2 assays performed in clinical laboratories, but the results of such assays typically are not available until the following day.

Methods: This is an observational study over 16 weeks of a rapid nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) performed at point of contact. The benchmark for comparison was a simultaneously obtained specimen assayed by a routine NAAT assay performed in a clinical laboratory.

Results: There were 577 paired rapid and routine NAAT results. Rapid test positive predictive value was 90.0% (95% confidence interval = 88.8%-91.2%), and negative predictive value was 95.2% (95% confidence interval = 93.5%-96.9%). The rapid test avoided an estimated 160 to 184 lost work shifts over 4 months.

Conclusions: A rapid NAAT test-based strategy proved effective in safely clearing symptomatic employees without infection for earlier return to work.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

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