COVID-19 nucleic acid testing is one of the main diagnosis basis of COVID-19. What are the procedures for nucleic acid testing? How long will the results be released? … On the morning of the 3rd, the Chengdu Business Daily-Red Star News reporter walked into the Sichuan International Travel Health Care Center (Chengdu Customs Port Clinic), which is responsible for COVID-19 nucleic acid and serum testing of immigration personnel, Recently, people have revealed the COVID-19 virus detection process.
Since the implementation of nucleic acid testing, the Sichuan International Travel Health Care Center Health and Quarantine Comprehensive Laboratory has tested more than 7,000 samples, with a maximum of nearly 400 tests per day, providing strong technical support for frontline inspections at the port. This is the battlefield where the COVID-19 virus is directly confronted. The specimen processing and nucleic acid extraction of each sample are connected with the COVID-19 virus in a short battle.
Samples collected at the customs travel inspection site are sent here as soon as possible
On April 1, the Chengdu Municipal Health Commission informed that on March 31, Chengdu added 2 new cases of imported COVID-19 confirmed cases. This is also the first time that Chengdu Customs has detected two confirmed cases of COVID-19 nucleic acid-positive entry personnel from the same flight. It is the Sichuan International Travel Health Care Center that is responsible for this nucleic acid detection task.
Protective clothing, work hat, over-the-knee shoe covers, medical masks, gloves, goggles, face masks, this outfit takes 20 minutes at a time, and this outfit is Dr. Gao Guolong, director of the Health and Quarantine Comprehensive Laboratory of the Health Center and his team Everyday essential equipment. Since the COVID-19 “war epidemic” started on January 22, the primary task of the Sichuan International Travel Health Care Center is to undertake COVID-19 laboratory testing at the Chengdu Customs Port.
“The samples collected by the customs officers at the Chengdu Shuangliu Airport customs inspection site will be sent to the Health Center Quarantine Comprehensive Laboratory and Medical Laboratory of the Health Center for testing as soon as possible.” Gao Guolong said that there are now 400 samples that can be tested the most in a single day , In order to issue a report as soon as possible, smoothly carry out follow-up emergency response, reduce the risk of epidemic outbreak, 2 laboratories stand by at any time, race against time, 20 professionals form a commando team, take turns holding positions in groups, and carry out COVID-19 virus 24 hours a day Nucleic acid detection and blood sample detection work, the nucleic acid detection “weapon” in the hand and the indelible “light” in the laboratory confront the virus.
This is one of the places closest to the virus and a high-risk position. The personal protection requirements of laboratory testing staff are three-level protection. Gao Guolong and colleagues need to wait for several hours to get out each time they enter the laboratory, sometimes even Work continuously for 10 hours. In the process of putting on and taking off protective clothing, the risk is high. In order to save time, save protective equipment, and complete the test as soon as possible, they often need to endure hunger and internal anxiety. Because the protective clothing was not breathable, when they walked out of the laboratory to take off the protective clothing, the clothes inside were already saturated with sweat. As a result of wearing gloves, goggles and masks for a long time, their faces and nose bridges were marked with red marks, and their hands will also be red due to allergies. Due to the high tension and concentration for a long time, although they felt out of the laboratory Hungry but no appetite at all.
4 to 6 hours nucleic acid detection
Find each sample “Accurate Answer”
Nucleic acid detection is an important criterion for the diagnosis of COVID-19, and every link in the detection process is delicate and lively, and it can’t afford to be sloppy. It is a direct confrontation with the virus. How does the nucleic acid detection “catch” the virus?
Gao Guolong told reporters that from sample verification, sample inactivation, nucleic acid extraction, system preparation, computer amplification and final result analysis, the nucleic acid detection process is complicated and cumbersome. To ensure the accuracy of the results, a strict set of procedures is required. It takes at least 4 to 6 hours of screening in the room, and it takes longer for abnormal samples. “Samples with positive test results will be reviewed again. It usually takes 8 to 10 hours to complete the test report.”
What is the biggest challenge in the whole nucleic acid detection process? It is not the negative pressure state of the laboratory or the overworked work of the armed forces. Gao Guolong and his colleagues all mentioned the same word: accurate. “The COVID-19 test is affected by many factors such as the development of the patient’s disease course and sample collection. Each sample is a difficult problem to be solved. All kinds of interference need to be eliminated to find an accurate answer.” Gao Guolong said, in order to ensure the test results Accuracy, as long as the test result is doubtful, it must be reviewed again, and may be re-tested.
Ensure accuracy of results
Multiple detection methods for simultaneous detection
Medical laboratories mainly test blood samples. “After receiving the sample from the port, the medical laboratory registers, numbers, and enters the information. The routine blood test is an automated operation. The test time for each sample is 1 minute. The white blood cell and lymphocyte counts of the sampled entry personnel at the port can be obtained in real time. , As one of the basis for judging the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 virus pneumonia. “Tian Lubo, deputy director of Sichuan International Travel Health Care Center, told reporters that multiple inspection methods of the comprehensive health and quarantine laboratory and the medical laboratory are tested at the same time, comprehensive judgment to ensure Results accuracy.
In fact, in addition to taking care of COVID-19 nucleic acid and serum testing of entry-exit personnel, the Sichuan International Travel Health Care Center also guarantees entry-exit personnel infectious disease monitoring physical examination and vaccination during the outbreak. As the only officially recognized medical examination and vaccination agency for infectious diseases of entry-exit personnel in Sichuan Province, from February 3 to April 2, the Sichuan International Travel Health Care Center has more than 1,300 outbound personnel such as labor, seafarers, and international students. As well as more than 100 inbound personnel to carry out infectious disease monitoring medical examination and vaccination.