Respiratory polymerase chain reaction – point of care test for patients with suspected influenza on the ambulatory care unit

Abstract

Availability of respiratory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result within 3 hours of the decision to do test and within 1 hour of sample collection to enable timely decision making for patients with suspected influenza. An audit from November 2016 to March 2017 demonstrated that respiratory PCR testing done via the lab takes on average 8 hours 44 minutes from the clinician’s decision to do the test to actual sample collection. It also showed that on average it takes 3 hours and 18 minutes from sample collection to actual result availability. This resulted in inappropriate isolation of patients, impaired patient flow coupled …