Experience of Implementing the Molecular Diagnosis of Covid-19 in the Regional Laboratory Center Instituto Adolfo Lutz De President Prudente

Abstract

This study aims to describe the results of the implementation of the molecular diagnosis of Covid-19 at the Instituto Adolfo Lutz Regional Laboratory Center in Presidente Prudente (CLR IAL PP-V). This is a descriptive observational study carried out from April 2020 to June 2022. The implementation of the diagnosis was only possible from the "Term of Cooperation between the Municipality of P. Prudente and the Public Ministry of Labor -PRT/15th Region/PTM of P. Prudente, with the consent of the Health Department of the State of São Paulo". This term allocated financial resources for the acquisition of equipment, supplies and adaptation of the physical facilities of the laboratory. Additionally, P. Prudente's municipal civil servants were made available and employees were temporarily hired to assist in the laboratory routine. The laboratory for the diagnosis of Covid-19 was opened on August 13, 2020. From its implementation until June 2022, more than 113,000 diagnostic tests for Covid-19 were carried out. While in 2020, approximately 30% of the samples received were analyzed; in 2022, the laboratory performed analyzes of 95% of the total samples received. Carrying out this exam in the CLR IAL PP-V was also important in terms of reducing the time to release the results, which averaged 1.2 days in general from 2020 to 2022, not exceeding 2.5 days. The results of the present study demonstrate the importance of the work of the Adolfo Lutz Institute in the prevention, control and laboratory surveillance of Public Health problems, especially in controlling the spread of the pandemic within its region of coverage.