• Nenad Kunac, Joško Bezić, Arijana Vuko, Željana Bašić, Ivan Jerković, Ivana Kružić, Toni Ljubić, Bernarda Lozić, Sanda Sardelić, and Šimun Anđelinović.
• 1Department of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Cytology, Split University Hospital Centre, Split, Croatia; 2University Department of Forensic Sciences, University of Split, Split, Croatia; 3Department of Pediatrics, Split University Hospital Centre, Split, Croatia; 4Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Split University Hospital Centre, Split, Croatia; 5School of Medicine, University of Split, Split, Croatia.
• Acta Clin Croat. 2021 Jun 1; 60 (2): 254-258.

AbstractThis paper presents the chronology, experiences, and challenges in introducing COVID-19 RT-PCR testing in Split, Croatia. We describe the processes from March 12, 2020 to May 26, 2020, starting from the initial knowledge transfer, expert team formation and management, testing implementation, and concluding with the standalone testing facilities, which used automated processes sufficient to meet testing requirements at that time. In the case presented, the COVID-19 unit was organized by joining human and laboratory resources from five clinical departments at the Split University Hospital Centre. Sample preparation procedures and analyses were launched within the restricted time frame while simultaneously training and organizing new laboratory staff and completing equipment requirements. As a result, the process that started with 30 tests per day was constantly improved over time and reached up to 160 tests per day when MagNA Pure was added to automatize RNA extraction at the end of April. At that pace, the cumulative number of samples soon exceeded the first thousand, and by the end of May it exceeded 4000. The case presented provides an example of good practice for crisis response and organization that successfully enabled sufficient COVID-19 testing capacities within the restricted time frame, human and technical resources. Despite limited understanding of COVID-19 at that time, appropriate management, transfer of knowledge, previous experiences in related laboratory and diagnostic work, as well as interdisciplinary and interdepartmental cooperation proved appropriate to overcome the above limitations and ensure adequate healthcare response.

8 keywords...

hide…