| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2020 | Volume
: 1
| Issue : 1 | Page : 3-7 |
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Factors leading to delayed testing from the time of symptom onset for COVID-19 by health-care personnel: A study from all india institute of medical sciences, New Delhi
JS Anuvindha1, Vishwajeet Singh2, Radhika Sarda3, Vishal Kumar Vishwakarma4, Aishee Pal5, Bharathi Arunan3, Shivam Goel3, Piyush Ranjan3, Arvind Kumar3, Naveet Wig3
1 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
2 Department of Biostatics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
3 Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
4 Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
5 Department of Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Arvind Kumar
Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 110 029
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/jopcs.jopcs_17_20
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Background and Objectives: Early testing and diagnosis of COVID-19 infection can help decrease the spread of the virus. Undoubtedly, health-care workers (HCWs) have been the frontline warriors in the COVID-19 pandemic and are at maximum risk of acquiring the infection. We thereby conducted this study to assess the factors that lead to delayed testing after symptom onset in health-care personnel. Methodology: This single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted at a dedicated COVID-19 Employee Health Services Outpatient Department at a tertiary care center, New Delhi, in July 2020. HCWs who were suspected COVID and presented for testing were included in the study. The duration between symptom onset and date of testing was noted. Delayed testing was defined as testing after 24 h from symptom onset. Results: A total of 653 HCWs were included in the study, and 55.9% were males. Female workers presented after a mean (standard deviation [SD]) of 3.43 days (1.91) from symptom onset as compared to male counterparts 3.16 days (1.84). Frontline HCWs who managed patients directly had delayed testing when compared to others at mean (SD) days of 3.46 (1.96) versus 3.13 (1.79), P = 0.04. Conclusion: In the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, prevention and mitigation of the disease are still the mainstays of combating the disease, for the given fact that treatment and immunization still remain largely unanswered. All HCWs, irrespective of sex, age, and place of working, should be routinely reiterated, motivated, and reinforced for early testing in case of COVID-19-related symptoms.
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