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Cellular pathology in the COVID-19 era: a European perspective on maintaining quality and safety
John R Gosney1, Paul Hofman2, Giancarlo Troncone3
1Cellular Pathology, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospitals NHS Trust, Liverpool, UK J.Gosney@liverpoolft.nhs.uk.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic impacts diagnostic labs. This article offers recommendations for handling cell and tissue specimens safely and effectively during high prevalence.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Laboratory Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- COVID-19, a zoonotic viral infection, was declared a global health emergency by the WHO.
- The pandemic significantly affects diagnostic laboratories, especially those processing cell and tissue specimens.
- Balancing personnel safety with high-quality, timely results is a critical challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide recommendations for handling cell and tissue specimens in diagnostic laboratories.
- To address challenges in preanalytical, analytical, and postanalytical phases during high COVID-19 prevalence.
- To ensure continued high-quality laboratory services while prioritizing safety.
Main Methods:
- Review of current laboratory practices for specimen handling.
- Development of evidence-based recommendations for different testing phases.
- Consideration of safety protocols in the context of a pandemic.
Main Results:
- Guidelines for safe specimen collection, transport, and processing.
- Strategies for maintaining analytical accuracy and timely reporting.
- Emphasis on risk mitigation for laboratory personnel.
Conclusions:
- Implementing specific protocols is crucial for safe and effective laboratory testing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Recommendations cover the entire workflow from preanalytical to postanalytical phases.
- Adapting laboratory practices ensures both personnel safety and diagnostic integrity.
Abstract:
COVID-19 is a zoonotic viral infection that originated in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. WHO classified the resulting pandemic as a 'global health emergency' due to its virulence and propensity to cause acute respiratory distress syndrome. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on diagnostic laboratories, particularly those handling cell and tissue specimens. This development carries serious implications for laboratory practice in that safety of personnel has to be balanced against high-quality analysis and timely reporting of results. The aim of this article is to present some recommendations for the handling of such specimens in the preanalytical, analytical and postanalytical phases of laboratory testing and analysis in an era of high COVID-19 prevalence, such as that seen, for example, in the UK, Spain, Italy and France.
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