Ann Lab Med.  2016 Mar;36(2):154-161. 10.3343/alm.2016.36.2.154.

Survey of Clinical Laboratory Practices for 2015 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Outbreak in the Republic of Korea

• Lee MK
• Kim S
• Kim MN
• Kweon OJ
• Lim YK
• Ki CS
• Kim JS
• Seong MW
• Sung H
• Yong D
• Lee H
• Choi JR
• Kim JH
• MERS-CoV Laboratory Response Task Force of The Korean Society for Laboratory Medicine

• KMID: 2373515
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3343/alm.2016.36.2.154

Abstract

BACKGROUND
It is crucial to understand the current status of clinical laboratory practices for the largest outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infections in the Republic of Korea to be well prepared for future emerging infectious diseases.
METHODS
We conducted a survey of 49 clinical laboratories in medical institutions and referral medical laboratories. A short questionnaire to survey clinical laboratory practices relating to MERS-CoV diagnostic testing was sent by email to the directors and clinical pathologists in charge of the clinical laboratories performing MERS-CoV testing. The survey focused on testing volume, reporting of results, resources, and laboratory safety.
RESULTS
A total of 40 clinical laboratories responded to the survey. A total of 27,009 MERS-CoV real-time reverse transcription PCR (rRT-PCR) tests were performed. Most of the specimens were sputum (73.5%). The median turnaround time (TAT) was 5.29 hr (first and third quartile, 4.11 and 7.48 hr) in 26 medical institutions. The median TAT of more than a half of the laboratories (57.7%) was less than 6 hr. Many laboratories were able to perform tests throughout the whole week. Laboratory biosafety preparedness included class II biosafety cabinets (100%); separated pre-PCR, PCR, and post-PCR rooms (88.6%); negative pressure pretreatment rooms (48.6%); and negative pressure sputum collection rooms (20.0%).
CONCLUSIONS
Clinical laboratories were able to quickly expand their diagnostic capacity in response to the 2015 MERS-CoV outbreak. Our results show that clinical laboratories play an important role in the maintenance and enhancement of laboratory response in preparation for future emerging infections.

Keyword

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV); Korea; Outbreak; Clinical laboratory; Preparedness; Survey

MeSH Terms

Clinical Laboratory Services/*standards
Clinical Laboratory Techniques/instrumentation/methods
Coronavirus Infections/*diagnosis/epidemiology/virology
Disease Outbreaks
Humans
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus/genetics/isolation & purification
RNA, Viral/analysis
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Sputum/virology
Surveys and Questionnaires
RNA, Viral

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Number of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) tests performed in Korea from May 28 to July 15.

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  Fig. 2 Number of clinical laboratories that started Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) testing in Korea from May 28 to July 15.

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