Andersen Thea A, Bjerner Johan, Tjade Trygve, Ranheim Trond E, Axelsen Eyvind W, Sovershaev Michael, Chen Ying, Gaustad Peter
Fürst Medical Laboratory, Oslo, Norway.
The Faculty of Informatics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
J Infect Prev. 2025 Apr 3:17571774251330455. doi: 10.1177/17571774251330455.
Amid the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, laboratories faced the challenge of maintaining diagnostic operations while adhering to infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines. We investigated the impact of implementing rapid molecular testing of employees of a large medical laboratory to prevent workplace transmission.
AIM/OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if fast-track PCR diagnostics, alongside local infection control measures, could reduce internal transmission and workplace sickness absence.
Employees with respiratory symptoms, but testing negative for SARS-CoV-2, were allowed to work if clinically healthy. All included employees completed a questionnaire and underwent SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing post-pandemic. Data on sickness absence were retrieved from local human resources systems, and comparative analyses were conducted between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods.
FINDINGS/RESULTS: Of 153 participants, 84 (55%) reported having had COVID-19, with 12 (14%) suspecting workplace transmission. Six (4%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgG nucleocapsid despite no COVID-19 diagnosis. Among 101 (66%) reporting respiratory symptoms and negative SARS-CoV-2 tests, 80 (79%) were allowed to return to the workplace. Mean workplace sickness absence during the pandemic 2020 (3.74%) and 2021 (4.19%) was significant lower compared with sickness absence in the laboratory before the pandemic in 2019 (4.54%). No larger outbreaks in the laboratory were recorded.
SARS-CoV-2 infections in the laboratory were mostly symptomatic and acquired outside the workplace. The combination of local IPC and rapid and frequent testing of employees facilitated an effective infection control and minimized workplace absence, maintain diagnostic operations.
在严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）大流行期间，实验室面临着在遵守感染预防与控制（IPC）指南的同时维持诊断操作的挑战。我们调查了对一家大型医学实验室的员工实施快速分子检测以预防 workplace 传播的影响。
评估快速PCR诊断与当地感染控制措施相结合是否可以减少内部传播和 workplace 病假缺勤率。
有呼吸道症状但SARS-CoV-2检测呈阴性的员工，如果临床健康则允许工作。所有纳入的员工在大流行后完成了一份问卷并接受了SARS-CoV-2抗体检测。从当地人力资源系统检索病假缺勤数据，并在大流行前和大流行期间进行比较分析。
在153名参与者中，84名（55%）报告曾感染新冠病毒，其中12名（14%）怀疑是 workplace 传播。尽管没有新冠病毒诊断，但有6名（4%）SARS-CoV-2 IgG核衣壳检测呈阳性。在报告有呼吸道症状且SARS-CoV-2检测呈阴性的101名（66%）员工中，80名（79%）被允许返回 workplace。2020年（3.74%）和2021年（4.19%）大流行期间 workplace 的平均病假缺勤率明显低于2019年大流行前实验室的病假缺勤率（4.54%）。实验室没有记录到更大规模的疫情爆发。
实验室中的SARS-CoV-2感染大多有症状，且是在 workplace 之外感染的。当地IPC与对员工进行快速频繁检测相结合，有助于有效控制感染，并最大限度地减少 workplace 缺勤，维持诊断操作。
