Department of Pathology, Children's Medical Center of Dallas and The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
J Mol Diagn. 2011 Mar;13(2):175-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2010.09.003.
During certain months of the year, viral respiratory infections lead to a dramatic increase in pediatric emergency room visits and hospital admissions. Rapid identification of the infectious organism results in timely treatment and reductions in hospital cost and length of stay. Before the introduction of molecular testing to the virology laboratory, diagnosis relied on the standard methods of immunofluorescence and culture. These tests can be labor-intensive and costly. Recent studies have demonstrated the higher sensitivity, faster turnaround, and broader diagnostic spectrum provided by multiplexed RT-PCR assays. Data comparing the laboratory cost and labor efficiency of the tests are lacking. To address this issue, we chose to implement the principles of operational workflow analysis using lean methodology to critically evaluate the potential advantages of a multiplexed RT-PCR assay both in terms of workflow and cost effectiveness. Our results indicated that the implementation of the Luminex xTAG Respiratory Viral Panel (RVP) resulted in a standardized workflow with decreased requirements in laboratory cost as well as improvement in efficiency. In summary, we demonstrate that, in our laboratory, the Luminex xTAG RVP is more operationally streamlined and cost-effective than standard viral direct fluorescent antibody and culture. Further studies are needed to highlight additional benefits of the test, including shortened hospital stay and improved patient outcome.
在一年中的某些月份，病毒性呼吸道感染会导致儿科急诊室就诊和住院人数急剧增加。快速识别感染病原体可实现及时治疗，并降低医院成本和住院时间。在分子检测引入病毒学实验室之前，诊断依赖于免疫荧光和培养的标准方法。这些测试可能既劳动密集又昂贵。最近的研究表明，多重 RT-PCR 检测具有更高的灵敏度、更快的周转时间和更广泛的诊断谱。缺乏比较测试的实验室成本和劳动效率的数据。为了解决这个问题，我们选择使用精益方法实施运营工作流程分析的原则，从工作流程和成本效益的角度来批判性地评估多重 RT-PCR 检测的潜在优势。我们的结果表明，实施 Luminex xTAG 呼吸道病毒检测试剂盒（RVP）可实现标准化工作流程，降低实验室成本，并提高效率。总之，我们证明在我们的实验室中，Luminex xTAG RVP 比标准的病毒直接荧光抗体和培养更具操作性和成本效益。需要进一步的研究来突出该测试的其他优势，包括缩短住院时间和改善患者预后。
