The professionals of the Laboratory of Microbiology of the Parc Taulí have multiplied by seven their daily activity of analysis of PCR, in relation to the one that did the past month of April, and already arrive to the average of 1.000 PCR daily, with some response times ranging from 80 minutes to a maximum of 24 hours.
The PCRs received in this laboratory come from patients from the Emergency and Preoperative Service (25%), Occupational Health (25%) and primary care patients (all performed at CAP Can Rull and part of those of CAP Sant Fèlix and CAP II Cerdanyola-Ripollet). 5% also come from the Hospital Quiron Salud del Vallès.
The Parc Taulí Laboratory currently has three different systems for carrying out these PCR analysis processes, each with different capacities and response times, and which are used according to the priority with which the PCR arrives. request for each test.
The fastest processors, intended for urgent determinations (two DiaSorin units), have the capacity to analyze eight samples in each cycle, while the two large devices of Grífols allow to analyze a maximum of between 1.000 and 1.200 samples per day among all two, in 3,5-hour cycles. It should be noted that, to this last system, it is also necessary to add the time of the previous process of inactivation of the samples, which is carried out manually by a technician in the biosafety bell.
In terms of results, the highest percentages of positives correspond to samples from primary care (10-12%), and from the Emergency Service (6%).
The team of the Microbiology Laboratory, made up of 5 doctors and 15 technicians, currently carries out its function in three shifts, to cover the service offered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Rapid antigen tests
For a week now, the Parc Taulí Laboratory has also been processing rapid antigen tests, of which an average of 20 are being carried out daily, and which also go through the Laboratory for processing and electronic registration of results. Its response time is about 45 minutes.
At present, in Parc Taulí, antigen tests are performed on Emergency and PADES patients, and on Occupational Health professionals who comply with the requirements established by the Department of Health for this test: patients with symptoms and with less than 5 days of evolution. It is being considered to incorporate this quick test into close contacts.
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