The clinical lab of the Jan Yperman Hospital will perform preventive screening for COVID-19 in institutions such as residential care centers in order to detect ‘asymptomatic’ carriers of the virus. This way, appropriate action can be taken quickly to prevent further spread. The laboratory works with saliva samples that are determined together in one analysis.
The project is an initiative of the Westhoek GPs and the Jan Yperman Hospital. Its purpose is to prevent outbreaks in institutions with vulnerable residents. “As GPs of the Westhoek, we are determined to vigorously combat the coronavirus”, says Dr. Pol Sansen, chairman of the Westhoek GPs. “Placing the elderly in solitary confinement in the last phase of their lives is almost a crime. Closing schools in turn has a detrimental effect on the well-being of the youth. We no longer want to experience these conditions and so we have together with the Jan Yperman Hospital was looking for an accessible way to keep institutions open safely. “
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The project is an initiative of the Westhoek GPs and the Jan Yperman Hospital. Its purpose is to prevent outbreaks in institutions with vulnerable residents. “As GPs of the Westhoek, we are determined to vigorously combat the coronavirus”, says Dr. Pol Sansen, chairman of the Westhoek GPs. “Placing the elderly in solitary confinement in the last phase of their lives is almost a crime. Closing schools in turn has a detrimental effect on the well-being of the youth. We no longer want to experience these conditions and so we have together with Jan Yperman Hospital was looking for an accessible way to keep institutions open safely. “Clinical biologist Stijn Jonckheere from Jan Yperman’s clinical lab explains how the innovative screening method works. “We will regularly test some of the residents and / or employees for COVID-19 per institution,” he says. “This is done via a PCR test, but not on the basis of a nose / throat swab, but via a saliva sample. The samples are then examined together with a maximum of 20 samples per analysis. If this analysis proves to be positive, the individual samples are tested separately. For example, with much less test material – there is still scarcity worldwide – and a considerable group of people can be tested within a very limited time. The test is also patient-friendly because it is a non-invasive method of collection. At the institution, a doctor is appointed to whom the results are reported and who is responsible for the further follow-up of any positive persons. “Residential care center Benaja from Oostvleteren participated in a test to validate the method: ten saliva samples were taken from employees, all of which turned out to be negative. “We will now regularly test our employees in this way, because it is they who have the most contact with the ‘outside world'”, explains director Marinus Jacob. “Using the saliva samples, we can quickly and proactively detect carriers, because the virus has not yet disappeared.” In addition to testing employees and / or residents of residential care centers and other residential collectivities, there is also a systematic test program of saliva samples in schools are a possibility, which may help to keep schools in the region open safely. For low viral loads, a saliva sample is less sensitive than a nose / throat swab. “At medium or high viral loads, the test results are satisfactory, and those loads are probably also related to the early active phase of the infection, when the risk of spreading is greatest,” said Stijn Jonckheere. “It is important to note that this is an additional measure to quickly detect and contain the spread of the virus. Because certain groups are tested in the institutions, it is hoped that people who are carriers can be detected faster than today. of the virus but who do not (yet) show symptoms, so-called asymptomatic carriers. It is suspected that these people unknowingly infect many others. The usefulness of saliva tests is supported by recent medical literature, which shows that this procedure can be used for detecting spreaders where a high viral load can be expected. “In other words, it is not a substitute for the hygiene measures in place and the PCR tests by nose / throat swab in people who show symptoms. Individual diagnostics in symptomatic patients and high risk contacts will continue to be done via nose / throat swabs. (TOGH)
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