title: Survey of Clinical Laboratory Practices for 2015 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Outbreak in the Republic of Korea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is crucial to understand the current status of clinical laboratory practices for the largest outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infections in the Republic of Korea to be well prepared for future emerging infectious diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a survey of 49 clinical laboratories in medical institutions and referral medical laboratories. A short questionnaire to survey clinical laboratory practices relating to MERS-CoV diagnostic testing was sent by email to the directors and clinical pathologists in charge of the clinical laboratories performing MERS-CoV testing. The survey focused on testing volume, reporting of results, resources, and laboratory safety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 40 clinical laboratories responded to the survey. A total of 27,009 MERS-CoV real-time reverse transcription PCR (rRT-PCR) tests were performed. Most of the specimens were sputum (73.5%). The median turnaround time (TAT) was 5.29 hr (first and third quartile, 4.11 and 7.48 hr) in 26 medical institutions. The median TAT of more than a half of the laboratories (57.7%) was less than 6 hr. Many laboratories were able to perform tests throughout the whole week. Laboratory biosafety preparedness included class II biosafety cabinets (100%); separated pre-PCR, PCR, and post-PCR rooms (88.6%); negative pressure pretreatment rooms (48.6%); and negative pressure sputum collection rooms (20.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical laboratories were able to quickly expand their diagnostic capacity in response to the 2015 MERS-CoV outbreak. Our results show that clinical laboratories play an important role in the maintenance and enhancement of laboratory response in preparation for future emerging infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sinyoung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Na
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Oh Joo
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Kweon
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Kwan
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Seok
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ki
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Moon-Woo
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Seong
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Heungsup
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dongeun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyukmin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Rak
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jeongho@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Jeong-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D064790:Clinical Laboratory Services / Q000592:standards*; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D065207:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D013183:Sputum / Q000821:virology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Clinical laboratory; Korea; Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV); Outbreak; Preparedness; Survey