A Guide to Setting up a Coronavirus (COVID-19) Clinical Diagnostic Testing Laboratory

Author: Shonali Paul

Journal: Clinical Lab Manager, May 29, 2020

Abstract: Major challenges testing labs face are preventing contamination, keeping up with the demand for testing, and maintaining an efficiency and accuracy.

There is an urgent need to set up new COVID-19 diagnostic testing labs and put procedures in place for existing labs to handle the new COVID-19 testing processes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides specific guidelines on how best to collect, handle and ship COVID-19 specimens. The CDC provides current guidelines related to laboratory biosafety and COVID-19. All laboratory personnel should receive adequate training and even complete assessments to ensure everyone understands these guidelines because no lab ever wants to have hazardous outcomes that will impact patients, laboratory staff, and outcomes of COVID-19 testing.