Brzo antigensko testiranje studenata i djelatnika Zdravstvenog veleučilišta na SARS-CoV-2: prikaz iskustva ustanove. (Croatian)

SARS-COV-2 rapid antigen testing of students and employees of the University of applied health sciences: presentation of the institution’s experience. (English)

Prevention of the occurrence of the COVID-19 disease within the higher education environment presents unique challenges. Testing the student population also requires a large number of tests. Considering the need to use laboratory capacities in the case of PCR testing, rapid antigen tests are a rational solution for mass testing. Rapid identification of SARS-CoV-2 is the starting point in the COVID-19 pandemic management, and rapid antigen tests (RAT) are available on the market for this purpose. RAT is a reliable, rapid chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of specific SARS-CoV-2 antigens present in the nasopharynx. Testing is performed by taking a swab of the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, and the results are visible after ten minutes of testing. From the October 2021 to March 2022, a total of 1,545 rapid antigen tests of students at the University of Applied Health Sciences were conducted. In the total number of those tested (N=1545), there were 12 positive results, which represents a share of the total number of 0.8%. In the mentioned period, 121 rapid antigen tests of employees were conducted too. In the total number of employees tested (N=121), there were 2 positive results, which represents a share of 1.7%. Factors that contributed to our rapid antigen testing program include ease of access and convenience of electronic testing application, proactive communication strategy, engagement of student representatives and vice deans, morning testing times, experienced teaching health professionals who performed the testing, ensured sufficient amount of material and speed of implementation and the availability of electronic confirmation of the conducted testing with special attention to the personal data management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prevencija pojavnosti bolesti COVID-19 unutar visokoobrazovnog okruženja predstavlja jedinstvene izazove. Testiranje studentske populacije zahtijeva i velik broj testova. Obzirom na potrebe korištenja laboratorijskih kapaciteta u slučaju provedbe PCR testiranja, racionalno rješenje za provedbu masovnih testiranja jesu brzi antigenski testovi. Brza identifikacija SARS-CoV-2 polazišna je točka u upravljanju pandemijom COVID-19, a za realizaciju istog su na tržištu dostupni brzi antigenski testovi (BAT). BAT je pouzdan, brz kromatografski imunološki test za kvalitativno otkrivanje specifičnih antigena SARS-CoV-2 prisutnih u nazofarinksu. Testiranje se izvodi uzimanjem obriska sluznice nazofarinksa, a rezultati su vidljivi već nakon desetak minuta od testiranja. Od mjeseca listopada 2021. do mjeseca ožujka 2022. ukupno je provedeno 1545 brzih antigenskih testiranja studenata Zdravstvenog veleučilišta. U ukupnom broju testiranih (N=1545) bilo je 12 pozitivnih rezultata što predstavlja udio u ukupnom broju od 0,8%. U navedenom razdoblju provedeno je i 121 brzo antigensko testiranje djelatnika. U ukupnom broju testiranja djelatnika (N=121) bila su 2 pozitivna rezultata što predstavlja udio od 1,7%. Čimbenici koji su pridonijeli našem programu brzog antigenskog testiranja uključuju jednostavnost pristupa i praktičnost elektroničke prijave na testiranje, proaktivnu komunikacijsku strategiju, angažman studentskih predstavnika i prodekana, jutarnje termine testiranja, iskusne nastavnike zdravstvene djelatnike koji su provodili testiranje, osiguranu dovoljnu količinu potrošnog materijala te brzinu provedbe i dostupnost elektroničke potvrde o provedenom testiranju s posebnom pozornošću na upravljanje osobnim podacima. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Applied Health Sciences is the property of University of Applied Health Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)