Point-of-care routine laboratory testing for patients with suspected viral hemorrhagic fevers

Abstract

When a suspected viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) case presents to a healthcare facility, healthcare personnel must be able to safely provide initial stabilizing care, which may involve performing basic routine laboratory testing. Current gaps exist in the ability of frontline acute care hospitals to safely perform routine laboratory tests on patients with suspected VHFs that generate category A waste. This review outlines a potential solution for frontline acute care hospitals to perform electrolytes, hemoglobin/hematocrit, and malaria testing, in accordance with National Special Pathogens System guidelines, in the patient’s isolation room. We discuss guidance on laboratory risk assessment, equipment considerations, space requirements, staffing solutions, waste management, cost estimates, and remaining challenges. Our manuscript provides frontline acute care hospitals with a potential solution to safely provide a minimum set of routine laboratory tests for patients with suspected VHF.