Reality Check of Laboratory Service Effectiveness during Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, Victoria, Australia
In Australia, the outbreak of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 began in Melbourne, Victoria; in the first 17 days, the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory detected 977 cases. Although the laboratory had a pandemic plan in place, a retrospective evaluation found 3 major variations from plan assump...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2011-06-01
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| Series: | Emerging Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/17/6/10-1747_article |
| _version_ | 1811279217651875840 |
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| author | Michael Catton Julian Druce Georgina Papadakis Thomas Tran Christopher Birch |
| author_facet | Michael Catton Julian Druce Georgina Papadakis Thomas Tran Christopher Birch |
| author_sort | Michael Catton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In Australia, the outbreak of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 began in Melbourne, Victoria; in the first 17 days, the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory detected 977 cases. Although the laboratory had a pandemic plan in place, a retrospective evaluation found 3 major variations from plan assumptions: 1) higher peak demand not limited by a case definition, 2) prolonged peak demand because containment attempts continued despite widespread influenza, and 3) unexpected influence of negative test results on public health actions. Although implementation of the plan was generally successful, the greatest challenges were limited availability of skilled staff and test reagents. Despite peak demand of 1,401 tests per day, results were provided within the usual 24 hours of specimen receipt; however, turnaround time seemed slower because of slow transport times (>3 days for 45% of specimens). Hence, effective laboratory capability might be enhanced by speeding transport of specimens and improving transmission of clinical data. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:50:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-279c2a3be4ee4a0da276e12c87555847 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1080-6040 1080-6059 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T00:50:46Z |
| publishDate | 2011-06-01 |
| publisher | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Emerging Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-279c2a3be4ee4a0da276e12c875558472022-12-22T03:09:53ZengCenters for Disease Control and PreventionEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-60592011-06-0117696396810.3201/eid1706.101747Reality Check of Laboratory Service Effectiveness during Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, Victoria, AustraliaMichael CattonJulian DruceGeorgina PapadakisThomas TranChristopher BirchIn Australia, the outbreak of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 began in Melbourne, Victoria; in the first 17 days, the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory detected 977 cases. Although the laboratory had a pandemic plan in place, a retrospective evaluation found 3 major variations from plan assumptions: 1) higher peak demand not limited by a case definition, 2) prolonged peak demand because containment attempts continued despite widespread influenza, and 3) unexpected influence of negative test results on public health actions. Although implementation of the plan was generally successful, the greatest challenges were limited availability of skilled staff and test reagents. Despite peak demand of 1,401 tests per day, results were provided within the usual 24 hours of specimen receipt; however, turnaround time seemed slower because of slow transport times (>3 days for 45% of specimens). Hence, effective laboratory capability might be enhanced by speeding transport of specimens and improving transmission of clinical data.https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/17/6/10-1747_articlepandemic (H1N1) 2009laboratorieslaboratory techniques and proceduresplanning techniquesspecimen handlinginfluenza |
| spellingShingle | Michael Catton Julian Druce Georgina Papadakis Thomas Tran Christopher Birch Reality Check of Laboratory Service Effectiveness during Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, Victoria, Australia Emerging Infectious Diseases pandemic (H1N1) 2009 laboratories laboratory techniques and procedures planning techniques specimen handling influenza |
| title | Reality Check of Laboratory Service Effectiveness during Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, Victoria, Australia |
| title_full | Reality Check of Laboratory Service Effectiveness during Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, Victoria, Australia |
| title_fullStr | Reality Check of Laboratory Service Effectiveness during Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, Victoria, Australia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reality Check of Laboratory Service Effectiveness during Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, Victoria, Australia |
| title_short | Reality Check of Laboratory Service Effectiveness during Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, Victoria, Australia |
| title_sort | reality check of laboratory service effectiveness during pandemic h1n1 2009 victoria australia |
| topic | pandemic (H1N1) 2009 laboratories laboratory techniques and procedures planning techniques specimen handling influenza |
| url | https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/17/6/10-1747_article |
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