The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) recently reported that 113 positive COVID-19 test results performed by a private laboratory in New York were false-positives, and the individuals tested were not infected with the Novel Coronavirus. Those tests were part of a quality control batch sample that included tests from other states that were retested. The RIDOH also reported that the quality control process retested 82 other positive tests and confirmed them to be positive for the Novel Coronavirus.
“In doing quality control, the New York laboratory identified issues with the accuracy of the results in this batch,” the Health Department news release stated. “The laboratory performed an internal investigation and concluded that initial sample handling in the lab was the reason for the false positives.”
Two Rhode Island nursing homes were forced to shut down visitation, send workers home, and notify family members that some staff members had the potential for infection from the virus.
Administration from those facilities reported that they were already dealing with delays in getting test results that affected staff members work schedules, and this false-positive issue further exacerbated the problem.
One suggested solution for obtaining more accurate and quicker testing was to have state health laboratories handle testing of nursing home staff.
Compliance Perspective
Issue
While guidelines from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) require nursing homes to perform testing on all residents and staff members, delays in getting the results and instances of false-positive tests create concerns for spreading the infection and adding to staffing shortages. As delays occur, staff who may have contracted COVID-19 continue working because their status is unknown, and other staff may be quarantined and not allowed to work because of false-positive test results.
Discussion Points
- Review policies and procedures regarding using a laboratory that can provide a faster turn-a-round and greater accuracy for COVID-19 tests and appropriate response to test results.
- Train staff members regarding the importance of all infection control protocols to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, e.g., hand hygiene, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and not working if they have symptoms such as temperature elevation, headache, sore throat, or a cough/respiratory difficulty).
- Periodically audit to ensure that testing is being done and that accurate test results are obtained quickly.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC view: HAND HYGIENE GUIDELINES FOR HEALTHCARE SETTINGS and MAINTAINING PROPER INFECTION CONTROL PROCEDURES
