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Daily testing of contacts of SARS-CoV-2 infected cases as an alternative to quarantine for key workers in Liverpool: A prospective cohort study.
Marsden, Lucy; Hughes, David M; Corcoran, Rhiannon; Cheyne, Christopher P; Ashton, Matt; Buchan, Iain; Coffey, Emer; García-Fiñana, Marta.
  • Marsden L; Public Health Department, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool, Cunard Building, Water Street, Liverpool, L3 1DS.
  • Hughes DM; Department of Health Data Science, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
  • Corcoran R; Department of Primary Care and Mental Health, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool.
  • Cheyne CP; Department of Health Data Science, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
  • Ashton M; Public Health Department, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool, Cunard Building, Water Street, Liverpool, L3 1DS.
  • Buchan I; Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
  • Coffey E; Public Health Department, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool, Cunard Building, Water Street, Liverpool, L3 1DS.
  • García-Fiñana M; Department of Health Data Science, Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
EClinicalMedicine ; 50: 101519, 2022 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1914315
ABSTRACT

Background:

Covid-19 test-to-release from quarantine policies affect many lives. The SMART Release pilot was the foundation of these policies and an element of the world's largest population cohort study of community-wide, SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen testing. The objective of the study was to evaluate daily lateral flow testing (LFT) as an alternative to 10-14 days quarantine for key worker contacts of known Covid-19 (or SARS-CoV-2 infection) cases.

Methods:

Prospective cohort study incorporating quantitative and qualitative research methods to consider how serial LFT compares with PCR testing to detect SARS-CoV-2 infections and to understand experiences/compliance with testing and the viability of this quarantine harm-reduction strategy. Participants were residents of the Liverpool area who were key workers at participating fire, police, NHS and local government organisations in Liverpool, and who were identified as close contacts of cases between December 2020 and August 2021. Thematic qualitative analysis was used to evaluate stakeholder meetings.

Findings:

Compliance with the daily testing regime was good across the three main organisations in this study with 96·9%, 93·7% and 92·8% compliance for Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service and Alder Hey Children's Hospital respectively. Out of 1657 participants, 34 positive Covid-19 cases were identified and 3 undetected by the daily LFT regime. A total of 8291 workdays would have been lost to self-isolation but were prevented due to negative daily tests. Organisations reported that daily contact testing proved useful, flexible and well-tolerated initiative to sustain key worker services.

Interpretation:

Compliance with daily testing among key workers was high, helping sustain service continuity during periods of very high risk of staffing shortage. Services reported that the pilot was a "lifeline" and its successful delivery in Liverpool has been replicated elsewhere.

Funding:

This report is independent research commissioned by DHSC and part funded by DHSC and NIHR. Further funding was received from Liverpool City Council, the EPSRC and MRC.
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Language: English Journal: EClinicalMedicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Language: English Journal: EClinicalMedicine Year: 2022 Document Type: Article