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A counterpoint - testing like this takes resources, and creates a backlog for other more pressing tests for patients. I mentioned this in another comment, but i
by epmaybe 7y ago
A counterpoint - testing like this takes resources, and creates a backlog for other more pressing tests for patients. I mentioned this in another comment, but if I have a patient with pneumonia, I'm more than likely going to treat it the same way regardless of what the test shows me. Getting samples from everyone takes resources that lots of hospitals don't really have.
Maybe you could get a backlog going that can test for COVID-19, when the lab's RT-PCR machines are underutilized, even after the patient leaves, so that we can get as much data as we can.
- jerry1979 7y agoHow do we know that testing for Coronavirus creates a backlog? I don't have enough information to say how the system works, but I imagine a nurse takes an additional blood test, and then someone sends that test to the CDC. The CDC tests the blood, and sends a response to the hospital. I am curious to know more about the actual process.
- dillonmckay 7y agoI believe a test takes 6 hours, there is already a several day backlog, and the samples are sent via FedEx.
- jerry1979 7y agoWould you happen to know it that takes 6 hours on the CDC's side or 6 hours in the doctor's office?
- gnulinux 7y agoBut wouldn't you need to isolate pneumonia patient if they confirmed to have COVID-19? Also, curious, would you be more inclined to use some of the medicine that other countries claimed to be effective against COVID-19? Like Remdesivir and chloroquine?
- pmoriarty 7y agoIn addition, at least until the outbreak becomes an uncontrolled epidemic in the US, you'd want to trace the contacts of any person confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 in order to try to try to stop the spread of the disease.