Abstract
UK National Health Service (NHS) Clinical Virology Departments provide a repertoire of tests on clinical samples to detect the presence of viral genomic material or host immune responses to viral infection. In December 2019, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged which quickly developed into a global pandemic; NHS laboratories responded rapidly to upscale their testing capabilities. To date, there is little information on the impact of increased SARS-CoV-2 screening on non-SARS-CoV-2 testing within NHS laboratories. This report details the virology test requests received by the Leicester-based NHS Virology laboratory from January 2018 to May 2022. Data show that in spite of a dramatic increase in screening, along with multiple logistic and staffing issues, the Leicester Virology Department was mostly able to maintain the same level of service for non-respiratory virus testing while meeting the new increase in SARS-CoV-2 testing.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; burden; diagnostics; non-SARS-CoV-2; pandemic; routine; testing.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, pandemic, diagnostics, testing., burden, routine, non-SARS-CoV-2, 【초록키워드】 viral infection, Virology, virus, Novel coronavirus, Laboratory, Host immune response, SARS-CoV-2 testing, clinical, information, genomic, National Health Service, Logistic, NHS, Department, dramatic increase, clinical sample, detect, increase in, maintain, NHS laboratories, NHS laboratory, 【제목키워드】 Virology, Testing, clinical, National Health Service, Performing, insight, the SARS-CoV-2,