Canadian Healthcare Technology Logo
  • Issues
    • Current Print Issue
    • Print Archive
  • Advertise
    • Publishing Schedule
    • Circulation
    • Unit Sizes and Rates
    • Mechanical Requirements
    • Electronic Advertising
    • White Papers
  • Subscribe
    • Print Edition
    • e-Messenger
    • White Papers
  • Events
  • Vendors
  • About Us

Enovacom (replay)

Enovacom (replay)

Sectra 2021 Klas award

Sectra 2021 Klas award

Diagnostics

Alberta pilots ‘pool testing’ to expand capacity

August 19, 2020


Dr Deena HinshawEDMONTON – To prepare for the return of children to the classrooms, Alberta Health Services is escalating its COVID-19 testing capacity. That includes the use of a new testing technique where samples from multiple Albertans are combined and processed at the same time.

AHS began piloting the practice, called pooling, on some asymptomatic novel coronavirus samples on Aug. 14, according to a report in the Calgary Herald.

Pooled tests mix biological samples from several people before testing. If the combined sample tests negative for the novel coronavirus, lab officials consider all samples involved to be negative. If the combined sample tests positive, however, all individual samples are tested alone to determine which sample or samples are positive.

“Pooling samples is an effective approach for performing a large number of tests while using fewer laboratory supplies and staff,” said AHS spokesman James Wood in a statement.

“If successful, (AHS) will look to expand this practice over the coming weeks to increase capacity.”

At an update on COVID-19, Dr. Deena Hinshaw (pictured), Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, said that of the 316,000 asymptomatic tests that had been conducted to that point, only 0.1 per cent had returned positive. At that rate, even if five asymptomatic samples are tested at once, the chance of a positive test among the pool would be less than half a per cent.

The pooled testing is just one way Alberta is planning to boost testing capacity ahead of September. Hinshaw said in early August that the province hoped to double capacity. Currently, Alberta has the ability to test up to 16,000 people per day, but average test daily rates hover around 8,000.

On Aug. 5, AHS put out a call for proposals to private vendors that can perform COVID-19 swabbing and testing on a contract basis, particularly for asymptomatic tests in rural areas.

The province is also hiring extra data-entry clerks and lab assistants to lighten the load within Alberta Precision Laboratory settings.

“As well, APL is securing additional automation for COVID-19 testing,” Wood said. “These approaches will help improve overall efficiencies, reduce wait times for results and allow us to increase our daily COVID-19 swabbing and testing capacity.”

PreviousNext

WP 900×150

WP 900x150

News and Trends

  • Using Lean to reduce wait times for COVID-19 tests
  • Ultrasound techs devise face-shield with better protection
  • Lakeridge Health quickly pivots to virtual care during COVID
  • Partnership brings virtual care to Indigenous communities
  • e-VOLVE modernizes electronic records at SW Ontario hospitals
More from the Print Edition

Subscribe

Subscribe

Free of charge to Canadian hospital managers and executives in nursing homes and home-care organizations. Learn More

Follow us on Social Media!

Follow us on Social Media!

C60 BeyondMyths

C60 BeyondMyths

Spok

Spok

Infoway (Feb)

Infoway (Feb)

MIIT 2021

MIIT 2021

Advertise with us

Advertise with us

Cisco SVT

Cisco SVT

CDW Lenovo T14

CDW Lenovo T14

Ampronix

Ampronix

Dapasoft CVC

Dapasoft CVC

Mohawk College (2)

Mohawk College (2)

CABHI Summit 2021

CABHI Summit 2021

WP 900×150

WP 900x150

Advertise with us

Advertise with us

Cisco SVT

Cisco SVT

CDW Lenovo T14

CDW Lenovo T14

Ampronix

Ampronix

Dapasoft CVC

Dapasoft CVC

Mohawk College (2)

Mohawk College (2)

CABHI Summit 2021

CABHI Summit 2021

Contact Us

Canadian Healthcare Technology
1118 Centre Street, Suite 207
Thornhill, Ontario, Canada L4J 7R9
Tel: 905-709-2330
Fax: 905-709-2258
info2@canhealth.com

  • Quick Links
    • Current Print Issue
    • Print Archive
    • Events
    • Vendors
    • About Us
  • Advertise
    • Publishing Schedule
    • Circulation
    • Unit Sizes and Rates
    • Mechanical Requirements
    • Electronic Advertising
    • White Papers
  • Subscribe
    • Print Edition
    • e-Messenger
    • White Papers
  • Resources
    • White Papers
    • Writers’ Guidelines
    • Privacy Policy
  • Topics
    • Administrative Solutions
    • Clinical Solutions
    • Companies
    • Continuing Care
    • Diagnostics
    • Education & Training
  •  
    • Electronic Records
    • Government & Policy
    • Infrastructure
    • Innovation
    • People
    • Privacy and Security

© 2021 Canadian Healthcare Technology

The content of Canadian Healthcare Technology is subject to copyright. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is strictly prohibited. Send all requests for permission to Jerry Zeidenberg, Publisher.

Search Site

Error: Enter a search term

  • Issues
    • Current Print Issue
    • Print Archive
  • Advertise
    • Publishing Schedule
    • Circulation
    • Unit Sizes and Rates
    • Mechanical Requirements
    • Electronic Advertising
    • White Papers
  • Subscribe
    • Print Edition
    • e-Messenger
    • White Papers
  • Events
  • Vendors
  • About Us