A Microbiology Laboratory Workflow in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Trakya University Medical Faculty Experience

• Published in: Namık Kemal tıp dergisi Vol. 9; no. 3; pp. 302 - 309
• Main Authors: DAVARCI, İsmail, GÜRCAN, Şaban, KAPLAN, Berrak
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Galenos Yayincilik 01.12.2021
• Subjects: covid-19; laboratory; microbiology; pandemic
• ISSN: 2587-0262; 2587-0262
• DOI: 10.4274/nkmj.galenos.2021.85570

Aim:The Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) epidemic first started in China and spread all over the world. In our country, pandemic management is carried out under the coordination of the Ministry of Health. With the change in the case increase rate in our province within months, the needs of our hospital were fully answered as the medical microbiology laboratory. In this study, it is aimed to convey our experiences and to make a retrospective analysis of the samples that came to the coronavirus laboratory in the first seven months of the pandemic.Materials and Methods:In order to create a safe working environment and organize the workflow during the pandemic process, some changes were made in the laboratory and it was made a guide. In addition, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests that came to the coronavirus laboratory between 21.03.2020 and 21.10.2020 were screened retrospectively.Results:A total of 73,773 SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests and 1,170 anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests were run in our laboratory. It was determined that total PCR positivity was 2.7% and antibody positivity was 1.9%.Conclusion:When the PCR positivity rates were examined, a dramatic decrease was observed after the first month with the measures taken and this decrease continued until the fifth month. It is seen that PCR positivity increased again in the sixth and seventh months with the relaxation of the measures. It is thought that our experiences in the first months of the pandemic can provide valuable information for other laboratories.