TY - JOUR
T1 - Coordination strategies to improve COVID-19 PCR laboratory testing scale up in Nepal
T2 - An analysis
AU - Bakker, Hannah
AU - Govindakarnavar, Arunkumar
AU - Krishnakumari, Parvathy Krishnan
AU - Gromicho, Joaquim
AU - Côté, Fannie L.
AU - Lahrichi, Nadia
AU - Jha, Priya
AU - Shrestha, Saugat
AU - Mulmi, Rashmi
AU - Bhusal, Nirajan
AU - Stapith, Deepesh
AU - Jha, Runa
AU - Shrestha, Lilee
AU - Naidoo, Dhamari
AU - Samuel, Reuben
AU - del Rio Vilas, Victor
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Bakker et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
PY - 2024/12
Y1 - 2024/12
N2 - During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nepal rapidly expanded its PCR testing capacity, essential for effective outbreak response. However, many laboratories faced overwhelming test volumes, resulting in delays that may have hindered containment efforts. This study aims to determine whether these challenges stemmed from capacity limitations and/or imbalanced sample distribution due to inadequate coordination. In this retro-perspective simulation of SARS-CoV-2 testing in Nepal during 2021, we evaluate the impact of coordinated sample transfers on reducing laboratory stress and wait times during demand peaks. Our findings reveal that centralized coordination and strategic partnerships for sample transfers significantly enhance diagnostic network performance, even under high demand. These insights offer valuable guidance for policymakers on implementing effective coordination strategies to strengthen diagnostic networks for future pandemics.
AB - During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nepal rapidly expanded its PCR testing capacity, essential for effective outbreak response. However, many laboratories faced overwhelming test volumes, resulting in delays that may have hindered containment efforts. This study aims to determine whether these challenges stemmed from capacity limitations and/or imbalanced sample distribution due to inadequate coordination. In this retro-perspective simulation of SARS-CoV-2 testing in Nepal during 2021, we evaluate the impact of coordinated sample transfers on reducing laboratory stress and wait times during demand peaks. Our findings reveal that centralized coordination and strategic partnerships for sample transfers significantly enhance diagnostic network performance, even under high demand. These insights offer valuable guidance for policymakers on implementing effective coordination strategies to strengthen diagnostic networks for future pandemics.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85211044327&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0314746
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0314746
M3 - Article
C2 - 39637159
AN - SCOPUS:85211044327
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 19
JO - PLoS ONE
JF - PLoS ONE
IS - 12 December
M1 - e0314746
ER -