Implementation of facemask sampling for the detection of infectious individuals with SARS-CoV-2 in high stakes clinical examinations – a feasibility study

Pan, Daniel, Williams, Caroline, Decker, Jonathan ORCID: 0000-0001-5904-7311, Fletcher, Eve, Gromusova, Natalia, Bird, Paul, Martin, Christopher A, Nazareth, Joshua, Rahman, Latif, O'Kelly, Kate, Panchal, Rakesh, Musa, Irfana, Dhutia, Harshil, Sze, Shirley, Pareek, Manish and Barer, Michael R. (2024) Implementation of facemask sampling for the detection of infectious individuals with SARS-CoV-2 in high stakes clinical examinations – a feasibility study. Future Healthcare Journal, 11 (4). p. 100175. doi:10.1016/j.fhj.2024.100175

Preview

Text 14393 Implementaion of face mask.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Download (847kB) | Preview

Abstract

Introduction SARS-CoV-2 may transmit across vaccinated cohorts during practical clinical examinations. We sought to assess the feasibility of facemask sampling (FMS) to identify individuals emitting SARS-CoV-2 during a mock PACES exam. Methods In May 2022 we recruited participants from a mock PACES examination in Leicester, UK. Following a negative lateral flow test assay, all participants wore modified facemasks able to capture exhaled virus during the assessment (FMS). A concomitant upper respiratory tract sample (URTS) was provided prior to FMS. Exposed facemasks were processed by removal and dissolution of sampling matrices fixed within the mask and cycle thresholds values quantified by RT-qPCR. Participants were asked to grade statements regarding the comfort, effort, ethics and communication when providing FMS; laboratory technicians were asked to grade key statements surrounding suitability of samples for processing. Results 34 participants provided concomitant URTS and FMS during the examination. One participant was positive for SARS-CoV-2, with a cycle threshold value of 22.5 on URTS, but negative (no viral RNA detected) on FMS; no transmission to others was identified from this individual. Participants responded positively to statements regarding FMS describing all four domains; however, 69% of participants felt that a positive result from FMS alone was insufficient for diagnosis and that further tests were required. All but one FMS sample was suitable for processing. Discussion FMS during PACES exams are acceptable among participants and samples provided are suitable for processing. Our results demonstrate feasibility of FMS within practical examination settings and support the further assessment of FMS as a scalable tool that can be compared with URTS to identify those who are infectious.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	SARS-CoV-2; Transmission; PACES; Examination; Acceptability
Subjects:	Q Science > QR Microbiology Q Science > QR Microbiology > QR355 Virology
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Health and Social Care
Depositing User:	Jonathan Decker
Date Deposited:	02 Oct 2024 10:13
Last Modified:	02 Oct 2024 10:15
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/14393

University Staff: Request a correction | Repository Editors: Update this record