Covid-19 mass testing programmes

Raffle, Angela E.; Pollock, Allyson M; Harding‐Edgar, Louisa

doi:10.1136/bmj.m3262

Cited by 68 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 4 publications

(4 reference statements)

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“…Similarly, given the aim of the study, the sample specificity, the rich dataset, in-depth insights into the phenomena of interest and the analysis approach adopted [28], the qualitative sample was deemed to have sufficient information power, although further insights from a larger sample of staff may be valuable for future research. The positive evaluation should be interpreted in the light of known drawbacks of universal testing such as false-positive and false-negative tests, the difficulty of defining an active infection and significant resource implications [29,30].…”

Section: Study Strengths and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions and Experiences of the University of Nottingham Pilot SARS-CoV-2 Asymptomatic Testing Service: A Mixed-Methods Study

Blake

Corner

Cirelli

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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We aimed to explore student and staff perceptions and experiences of a pilot SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic testing service (P-ATS) in a UK university campus setting. This was a mixed-method study comprised of an online survey, and thematic analysis of qualitative data from interviews and focus groups conducted at the mid-point and end of the 12-week P-ATS programme. Ninety-nine students (84.8% female, 70% first year; 93.9% P-ATS participants) completed an online survey, 41 individuals attended interviews or focus groups, including 31 students (21 first year; 10 final year) and 10 staff. All types of testing and logistics were highly acceptable (virus: swab, saliva; antibody: finger prick) and 94.9% would participate again. Reported adherence to weekly virus testing was high (92.4% completed ≥6 tests; 70.8% submitted all 10 swabs; 89.2% completed ≥1 saliva sample) and 76.9% submitted ≥3 blood samples. Students tested to “keep campus safe”, “contribute to national efforts to control COVID-19”, and “protect others”. In total, 31.3% had high anxiety as measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) (27.1% of first year). Students with lower levels of anxiety and greater satisfaction with university communications around P-ATS were more likely to adhere to virus and antibody tests. Increased adherence to testing was associated with higher perceived risk of COVID-19 to self and others. Qualitative findings revealed 5 themes and 13 sub-themes: “emotional responses to COVID-19”, “university life during COVID-19”, “influences on testing participation”, “testing physical and logistical factors” and “testing effects on mental wellbeing”. Asymptomatic COVID-19 testing (SARS-CoV-2 virus/antibodies) is highly acceptable to students and staff in a university campus setting. Clear communications and strategies to reduce anxiety are likely to be important for testing uptake and adherence. Strategies are needed to facilitate social connections and mitigate the mental health impacts of COVID-19 and self-isolation.

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Section: Study Strengths and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions and Experiences of the University of Nottingham Pilot SARS-CoV-2 Asymptomatic Testing Service: A Mixed-Methods Study

Blake

Corner

Cirelli

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…17 Diagnostic or operational performance of swab tests in the real world might differ substantially from the analytical sensitivity and specificity. 18 Thus, a negative result does not exclude the possibility of COVID-19 infection and should not be used as the only criterion for treatment or patient management decisions. 19 It seems that combination of real-time RT-PCR and clinical features facilitates management of SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Telemedicine in COVID-19 era

Nazim

Rahman²,

Uddin

2020

Birdem Med J

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Background: COVID-19 pandemic has set many things to new normal. Telemedicine, in its modern form, started in the 1960s. In this COVID era of isolation, lockdown and quarantine, telemedicine has emerged as an essential way to seek medical consultation. This study was designed to explore the practical utility of telemedicine. Methods: This was an observational study of real-life scenario. The data were collected from prescriptions of single, home-based, specialist clinical practice set-up. It was over a period of 26 days in the month of August 2020. The liking or disliking or preference of telemedicine was asked by the physician and was recorded. Emergency cases were not entertained. Repeat visit cases were not included in statistical analysis. The data were analyzed by SPSS 23. Results: A total of 453 cases were analysed. There were 40 COVID-19 cases and 413 non-COVID cases. COVID and non-COVID cases were analysed in different account. Thirty (75%) COVID-19 cases were RTPCR positive; asymptomatic (2, 5%), influenza-like illness (ILI) (16, 40%) and pneumonia (22, 55%). Thirty one (77.5%) were diabetic, 19 (47.%) had hypertension, 4 (10%) had bronchial asthma. Twenty four (60%) cases were treated with regimen following national guideline (dexa+antibiotic+enoxaparine). Non-COVID cases were with chronic diseases; diabetes mellitus (81.6%), hypertension (67.1%), bronchial asthma (9.2%), hypothyroidism (12.6%). Nearly half (45.8%) were insulin user. Among the respondants, 8.4% disliked service of telemedicine, 91.6% supported it but 41.9% expressed the wisdom of face to face consulation. Over half (51.8%) urged not to abandone it. Conclusion: Telemecinie may be a useful way of medical consultation where needed and indicated. Birdem Med J 2020; 10, COVID Supplement: 74-80

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“…Allyson Pollock, co-director of the Newcastle University Centre for Excellence in Regulatory Science and an Independent SAGE committee member, who recently co-wrote an editorial in The BMJ on mass testing programmes,4 tweeted, “We haven’t got [the] basics right on testing and government [is] about to squander half a billion. There are so many unknowns with tests.…”

Section: Ethical Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Angela Raffle, consultant in public health from University of Bristol and coauthor of the BMJ editorial,4 said, “I hope that the pilots will be overseen by people who have relevant experience in communicable disease control and in delivering mass testing in low risk groups.…”

Section: Ethical Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Covid-19: Government faces criticism over £500m plan to pilot mass testing

Iacobucci¹

2020

BMJ

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Experts have questioned the UK government's decision to expand its testing programme for covid-19 to the mass population, including people without symptoms.Current government advice is that only people with symptoms should have a covid-19 test. But on 3 September the government announced a substantial investment of £500m (€558m; $661m) to support trials of wider mass population testing, as well as a quicker "20 minute" saliva test for covid-19. 1 Jon Deeks, professor of biostatistics at the University of Birmingham and lead author of a recent Cochrane review of covid-19 antibody tests, questioned the wisdom of mass testing, given the potential for false positives."If you start testing everybody it turns into a screening programme, and you need to be very clear that you're going to do more good than harm by this," he said. "With these tests, there's been a lot of concern about false positives. Experts on screening should be advising on this."The money will fund a new pilot programme to trial saliva based mass population testing in the community in Salford, Greater Manchester. Local people-including those with no or minor symptoms-will be invited for a weekly test on a repeat basis. The pilot will initially process as many as 250 tests a day and will focus on high footfall locations such as shops, public services, transport, and places of worship before eventually expanding to the whole area.The funding will also cover an expansion of existing trials of saliva testing in Southampton and a rapid 20 minute test in Hampshire, as well as funding new equipment at the government's Lighthouse laboratories to process more polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test samples simultaneously.

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Covid-19 mass testing programmes

Abstract: Should be modelled on successful screening programmes

Cited by 68 publications

References 4 publications

Perceptions and Experiences of the University of Nottingham Pilot SARS-CoV-2 Asymptomatic Testing Service: A Mixed-Methods Study

Perceptions and Experiences of the University of Nottingham Pilot SARS-CoV-2 Asymptomatic Testing Service: A Mixed-Methods Study

Telemedicine in COVID-19 era

Covid-19: Government faces criticism over £500m plan to pilot mass testing

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