Laboratory surge response to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 outbreak, New York City metropolitan area, USA.
The North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System Laboratories serve 15 hospitals and affiliated regional physician practices in the New York City metropolitan area, with virus testing performed at a central reference laboratory. The influenza A pandemic (H1N1) 2009 outbreak began in this area on April 24, 2009, and within weeks respiratory virus testing increased 7.5 times. In response, laboratory and client service workforces were increased, physical plant build-out was completed, testing paradigms were converted from routine screening tests and viral culture to a high-capacity molecular assay for respiratory viruses, laboratory information system interfaces were built, and same-day epidemiologic reports were produced. Daily review by leadership of data from emergency rooms, hospital facilities, and the Health System Laboratories enabled real-time management of unfolding events. The ability of System laboratories to rapidly increase to high-volume comprehensive diagnostics, including influenza A subtyping, provided key epidemiologic information for local and state public health departments.
Crawford
James M
JM
North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System Laboratories, Manhasset, New York, USA.
Stallone
Robert
R
Zhang
Fan
F
Gerolimatos
Mary
M
Korologos
Diamanto D
DD
Sweetapple
Carolyn
C
de Geronimo
Marcella
M
Dlugacz
Yosef
Y
Armellino
Donna M
DM
Ginocchio
Christine C
CC
D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007753:Laboratories / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055872:Surge Capacity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000078329:Workforce
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic