Development and Evaluation of Applying a Point-of-Care COVID-19 Test Strategy to Triage Patients Presenting With Acute Coronary Syndromes, Respiratory or Hemodynamic Instability and Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrests

Currently, testing for COVID-19 is carried out with swabs and blood tests that are sent to hospital laboratories for analysis. With the current technology, the turnaround time for test results may take any where from 8 hours up to several days for confirmation of whether you have COVID-19. This delay in diagnosis may delay care, prevent other testing modalities, consume isolation beds and deplete the valuable personal protective equipment (PPE) needed while providing treatment for patients with COVID-19.

Using a new, Health Canada approved technology, we can conduct the virus genetic testing at the bedside with a nostril and throat swab, with results in under 45 minutes. This new "point-of-care (POC)" technology, if proven accurate, may help future patients receive faster and more definitive treatment. At the same time, it might help health care teams to preserve resources and optimize care for patients (example: triage use of intensive care or isolation unit beds, determine need for PPE, get quarantined staff back to front line to help with care if they are non-carriers).