Cellular pathology in the COVID-19 era: a European perspective on maintaining quality and safety. Issue 1 (1st June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gosney, John R; Hofman, Paul; Troncone, Giancarlo; Lopez-Rios, Fernando
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical pathology. Volume 74:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 64
• Page End: 66
• Publication Date: 2020-06-01
• Subjects: laboratory personnel -- safety -- decontamination; Pathology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; 616.0705
• DOI: 10.1136/jclinpath-2020-206789
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9746

Abstract

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.