Improvement of the Pre-Analytical Phase of Nasopharyngeal Samples During the COVID 19 Pandemic: Experience of the Institute Pasteur De Côte d’Ivoire in 2020

Abstract

The clinical laboratory is playing an increasingly important role in the patient-centered approach to the delivery of health services. Early detection of the importation of COVID-19 is a crucial challenge for all countries at risk of importation from areas of active transmission. This article aims to share the experience of the IPCI in the optimum management of the pre-analytical phase related to diagnostic tests for COVID 19. From the start of the pandemic the state and the IPCI made several organizational decisions to respond effectively to all trends of the COVID 19 epidemic in our country. Outsourcing of pre-analysis with creation of several sections: preparation of tube kits, aliquoting of samples from patients suspected of COVID19, reception, sorting and decontamination. Exemplary use of administrative and laboratory support staff. Our findings should help establish urgent priorities for intensified preparedness and response support in specific African countries with moderate or high risk of COVID-19 importation and whose capacity to manage the health emergency is low relatively low.