Coordination strategies to improve COVID-19 PCR laboratory testing scale up in Nepal: An analysis.
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...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2024-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314746 |
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| author | Hannah Bakker Arunkumar Govindakarnavar Parvathy Krishnan Krishnakumari Joaquim Gromicho Fannie L Côté Nadia Lahrichi Priya Jha Saugat Shrestha Rashmi Mulmi Nirajan Bhusal Deepesh Stapith Runa Jha Lilee Shrestha Dhamari Naidoo Reuben Samuel Victor Del Rio Vilas |
| author_facet | Hannah Bakker Arunkumar Govindakarnavar Parvathy Krishnan Krishnakumari Joaquim Gromicho Fannie L Côté Nadia Lahrichi Priya Jha Saugat Shrestha Rashmi Mulmi Nirajan Bhusal Deepesh Stapith Runa Jha Lilee Shrestha Dhamari Naidoo Reuben Samuel Victor Del Rio Vilas |
| author_sort | Hannah Bakker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1bd8e06b8b4c4d7fa55781dfe6f26c9d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-1bd8e06b8b4c4d7fa55781dfe6f26c9d2025-01-21T05:31:27ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032024-01-011912e031474610.1371/journal.pone.0314746Coordination strategies to improve COVID-19 PCR laboratory testing scale up in Nepal: An analysis.Hannah BakkerArunkumar GovindakarnavarParvathy Krishnan KrishnakumariJoaquim GromichoFannie L CôtéNadia LahrichiPriya JhaSaugat ShresthaRashmi MulmiNirajan BhusalDeepesh StapithRuna JhaLilee ShresthaDhamari NaidooReuben SamuelVictor Del Rio VilasDuring 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.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314746 |
| spellingShingle | Hannah Bakker Arunkumar Govindakarnavar Parvathy Krishnan Krishnakumari Joaquim Gromicho Fannie L Côté Nadia Lahrichi Priya Jha Saugat Shrestha Rashmi Mulmi Nirajan Bhusal Deepesh Stapith Runa Jha Lilee Shrestha Dhamari Naidoo Reuben Samuel Victor Del Rio Vilas Coordination strategies to improve COVID-19 PCR laboratory testing scale up in Nepal: An analysis. PLoS ONE |
| title | Coordination strategies to improve COVID-19 PCR laboratory testing scale up in Nepal: An analysis. |
| title_full | Coordination strategies to improve COVID-19 PCR laboratory testing scale up in Nepal: An analysis. |
| title_fullStr | Coordination strategies to improve COVID-19 PCR laboratory testing scale up in Nepal: An analysis. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coordination strategies to improve COVID-19 PCR laboratory testing scale up in Nepal: An analysis. |
| title_short | Coordination strategies to improve COVID-19 PCR laboratory testing scale up in Nepal: An analysis. |
| title_sort | coordination strategies to improve covid 19 pcr laboratory testing scale up in nepal an analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314746 |
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