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Review
. 2022 Aug 8;33(2):194-208.
eCollection 2022 Aug.

Impact of COVID-19 on Pediatric Laboratory Medicine: An IFCC C-ETPLM, SSIEM, ISNS Global Survey

Tze Ping Loh  1 , Ronda F Greaves  2 , Chloe M Mak  3 , Gajja S Salomons  4 , James R Bonham  5 , Tim Lang  6 ; IFCC Committee on Emerging Technologies in Paediatric Laboratory Medicine
Affiliations
Review

Impact of COVID-19 on Pediatric Laboratory Medicine: An IFCC C-ETPLM, SSIEM, ISNS Global Survey

Tze Ping Loh et al. EJIFCC. .

Abstract

Objective: Pediatric laboratory medicine is a unique practice serving a vulnerable group of patients including highly specialized testing aiming to detect and treat inherited conditions early to avoid adverse outcomes. Data on the actual impact of COVID-19 pandemic on this speciality is lacking.

Methods: A survey was conducted by the IFCC Committee on Emerging Technologies in Pediatric Laboratory Medicine in partnership with the Society for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism and International Society for Neonatal Screening, to assess the impact on the clinical service provision during the initial wave (January to July 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic and to gather experiences learned in order to improve laboratory preparedness for future outbreaks.

Results: 217 survey responses were received from 69 regions. Sixty-three laboratories (29%) reported a restriction or suspension of service for a median period of four months. The common tests/ services suspended were new-born screening program, body fluids and sweat testing. The reasons for the suspension were related to bio-safety risks of COVID-19 transmission, manpower constraints and supplies disruption. A minority (9-10%) of laboratories did observe delayed/missed diagnoses or a more severe presentation of a clinical disorder. The critical operational decisions that helped manage the initial wave of COVID-19 included modifying work shift patterns, split-teams arrangement, use of personal protection equipment and social distancing.

Conclusion: The provision and delivery of pediatric laboratories services were affected during the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Manpower preparedness for future potential disruptions to pediatric laboratory services is a key finding and recommendation from this survey.

Keywords: COVID-19; hospital; metabolic; newborn screening; pediatrics; quality management.

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Conflict of interest statement

We wish to acknowledge and thank Mrs. Silvia Collie-Lanzi from the IFCC Office for her support in building of the questionnaire in Survey Monkey and her attention to detail in the delivery of support services to the C-ETPLM, as well as Mr. Nick Law from SSIEM for the assistance in disseminating the survey questionnaire.

Figures

This figure was created with mapchart.net.
Figure 1
World map showing valid responses from 69 region for the global survey
*BCP = business continuity planning; OH&S = occupational health and safety.
Figure 2
Significant operational areas were identified to prepare the laboratory for subsequent COVID-19 waves*
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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