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Onsite pathology tests for infectious diseases in rural and remote locations can be just as reliable and accurate as tests carried out in a hospital laboratory, according to a from .

鈥淥ur study demonstrates that when point-of-care testing models are effectively established and managed, the quality of pathology results can be equivalent to laboratory tests, and the benefits for patients are overwhelmingly evident,鈥� said Dr Susan Matthews from the International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing at Flinders University.

Matthews and team tested the quality of onsite pathology testing, or point-of-care-testing (POCT), for molecular-based, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection in over 100 remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

Support for hard-to-reach patients

鈥淚n Australia, POC testing supports hard-to-reach patients, including Indigenous communities in rural and remote areas, where long distances and social and cultural factors can prevent individuals from getting tested, meaning that infectious diseases can often be left untreated.

鈥淭he high prevalence among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of infectious diseases like COVID-19 has consolidated demand for point-of-care diagnostic solutions particularly due to their cost-effectiveness, accessibility and ability to deliver immediate results,鈥� she said.

The report assessed analytical quality in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander COVID-19 Point-of-Care (POC) Testing Program in Australia, which was launched in April 2020 to improve access to rapid molecular-based SARS-CoV-2 detection in remote communities.

鈥淭he program reached 105 communities across Australia and was found to have contributed to averting a significant number of COVID-19 infections, resulting in substantial cost savings to the healthcare system,鈥� Matthews said.

Training and quality assessment

The analytical quality of the COVID-19 testing was supported by a robust operator training program and the implementation of a customised External Quality Assessment (EQA) program, the latter developed in partnership with the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs (RCPAQAP).

鈥淭he EQA program allowed us to assess the accuracy and reliability of the COVID-19 test results and confirmed the technical competency of the trained remote health service POCT operators.

鈥淥ur findings highlight an ongoing need for well-designed, cost-effective and externally accredited EQA programs, not just for SARS-CoV-2 but also for other diseases that require POC testing.

鈥淭he COVID-19 program has now been expanded to include testing for Influenza A and B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), as well as SARS-CoV-2, and has the potential to stem acute and infectious diseases in rural and remote areas whilst saving the government billions of dollars in health costs,鈥� she said.

POCT was first introduced to remote health centres in 1999 through the Quality Assurance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medical Services (QAAMS) Program, which the Flinders University International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing continues to manage on behalf of the Australian Government.

The paper, by Susan J Matthews, Kelcie Miller, Kelly Andrewartha, Melisa Milic, Deane Byers, Peter Santosa, Alexa Kaufer, Kirsty Smith, Louise M Causer, Belinda Hengel, Ineka Gow, Tanya Applegate, William D Rawlinson, Rebecca Guy and Mark Shephard, has been published in .

Image credit: iStock.com/Pakin Jarerndee