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Phin N, Poutanen SM. The cat is out of the bag - point-of-care testing (POCT) is here to stay. Euro Surveill 2020; 25:2001854. [PMID: 33153521 PMCID: PMC7645973 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2020.25.44.2001854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nick Phin
- Public Health England (PHE), Colindale, London, United Kingdom
- University of Chester, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - Susan M Poutanen
- University Health Network/Sinai Health Department of Microbiology, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Dickson EM, Zambon M, Pebody R, de Lusignan S, Elliot AJ, Ellis J, Lackenby A, Smith G, McMenamin J. Do point-of-care tests (POCTs) offer a new paradigm for the management of patients with influenza? Euro Surveill 2020; 25:1900420. [PMID: 33153522 PMCID: PMC7645971 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2020.25.44.1900420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The introduction of point-of-care tests (POCTs) has presented new opportunities for the management of patients presenting to healthcare providers with acute respiratory symptoms. This Perspective article is based on the experiences of national infection teams/those managing acute respiratory infections across the United Kingdom in terms of the challenges and opportunities that this may present for public health. This Perspective article was conceived and written pre-coronavirus disease (COVID-19), however the principles we outline here for influenza can also be translated to COVID-19 and some key points are made throughout the article. The greatest challenge for intergrating POCTs into non-traditional environments is the capture of data and samples for surveillance purposes which provides information for public health action. However, POCTs together with measures outlined in this article, offer a new paradigm for the management and public health surveillance of patients with influenza.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Dickson
- European Programme for Public Health Microbiology (EUPHEM), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
- Health Protection Scotland, Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Zambon
- Reference Microbiology, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Pebody
- Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Alex J Elliot
- Real-time Syndromic Surveillance Team, Field Service, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Ellis
- Reference Microbiology, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
| | - Angie Lackenby
- Reference Microbiology, National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gillian Smith
- Real-time Syndromic Surveillance Team, Field Service, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Jim McMenamin
- Health Protection Scotland, Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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