Covid-19 Drive Through Testing - A Novel, Scalable, High-Throughput and Safe Sampling Model in the Covid-19 Pandemic
Arjun Dang1, Navin Dang1, Manavi Dang, Devjani De1,2, Binish Jawed2* and Leena Chatterjee1
1Department of Microbiology, Dr. Dangs Lab, New Delhi, 110016, India
2Department of Molecular Biology, Dr. Dangs Lab, New Delhi, 110016, India
*Corresponding Author: Binish Jawed, Department of Molecular Biology, Dr. Dangs Lab, New Delhi, 110016, India.
Received: April 05, 2022 Published: April 25, 2022
Abstract
The beginning of 2020 also marked the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, which reiterated the key role of diagnostics in patient management, infection containment, planning, and implementation of control strategies. With the emphasis on testing larger populations, it became pertinent to develop a mass specimen collection site that could serve volumes more effectively and safely to meet the rising testing demands of the pandemic. In this article, we discuss the Drive-through model of swab collection for COVID-19 testing as an efficient, safe, effective & scalable testing model for the pandemic. Each wave of the pandemic taught us that change, and innovation are the only constant. The Drive Thru collection sites were setup for high throughput testing of patients for COVID-19. This innovative model helped us achieve excellent patient care by allowing faster specimen collection and thus a shorter sample-to-result turnaround time, more judicious usage of PPE, promoting increased patient safety and satisfaction along with minimizing the risk of transmission. We successfully implemented scalable and highly effective specimen collection sites for COVID-19 when testing was the key to flattening the curve. The entire process took about a few minutes for patients within the confines of their vehicles, keeping in mind maximum safety and minimum exposure to both the patient and healthcare personnel.
Keywords: COVID-19, Drive through,Sampling model
Citation: Dang A, Dang N, Dang M, Devjani De, Jawed B, Chatterjee L. “Covid-19 Drive Through Testing - A Novel, Scalable, High-Throughput and Safe Sampling Model in the Covid-19 Pandemic”. SVOA Microbiology 3:2 (2022) Pages 18-26.
