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Active testing for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in at-risk populations "is feasible and affordable in Canada", say authors of a study published in the CMAJ.
Costs, human resources and the laboratory capacity required for active RT-PCR testing were assessed in five populations at increased risk of acquiring COVID-1 infection (hospital employees, community healthcare workers, long-term care facility residents, essential business employees, and schoolchildren and staff) in all provinces in Canada, compared with random surveillance testing.
Under the status quo, 41 751 RT-PCR tests per day were performed between 8 July and 17 July 2020 by 5122 personnel at a cost of $2.4 million [2020 Canadian dollars] per day ($67.8 million per month). Additional systematic contact tracing and testing was estimated to increase costs to $78 million per month.
It was estimated that testing all hospital employees, community healthcare workers and long-term care facility residents, and essential business employees, would cost $29.0 million, $124.8 million, $321.7 million per month, respectively, and require 1823, 11 074 and 25 965 additional personnel, respectively. Testing schoolchildren and staff would cost $816.0 million over 6 weeks and require 46 368 additional personnel.
"Active testing strategies can identify a high proportion of people with SARS-CoV-2 infection and minimal or no symptoms, who are currently an important source of community transmission . . . This testing approach should be an integral component of a broad strategy to allow all Canadians to return safely to work and school," commented the authors.
Reference
Campbell JR, et al. Active testing of groups at increased risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 in Canada: costs and human resource needs. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal : 9 Sep 2020. Available from: URL: http://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.201128
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Costs of active COVID-19 testing in Canada. PharmacoEcon Outcomes News 863, 8 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40274-020-7162-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40274-020-7162-1