The Vitebsk City Central Polyclinic has doubled the capacity of its PCR laboratory for COVID-19 detection
The cold season has arrived — and the insidious COVID virus is once again rearing its head. It changes its appearance, tries to hide in the body and strike where it hurts the most… But, if just a year and a half ago we perceived any news related to COVID-19 with panic, now confusion has been replaced by clarity of strategy, prompt action, readiness for new pandemic challenges, robust technical equipment, and mass vaccination.
There are no problems with diagnosing the infection that has engulfed the entire world in Belarus either. The correspondent of "R" checked this on the example of the Vitebsk City Central Polyclinic, which was one of the first in the country to open a PCR laboratory on its base, and has now doubled its capacity.
It takes only a few hours from the moment the material is collected – COVID is quickly detected using special test systems.
— Despite the good equipment, it was not easy. At that time, only a few laboratories were engaged in PCR diagnostics of the virus, and the number of patients was increasing. We collected swabs and delivered them to the laboratory of the regional Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health. And almost all medical institutions of the region also sent their analyses there. Other laboratories in the city were also loaded with research – the infectious diseases hospital, the regional maternity hospital, the skin and venereal dispensary.
Patients were nervous –their concerns can be understood, as everyone was worried about their health and wanted to get tested as soon as possible. This issue was discussed at the city executive committee level, and it was decided to purchase our own PCR laboratory with all the accompanying equipment. Fortunately, we have enough suitable premises for its location. A separate block was allocated. The purchase was financed by the city budget.
With the advent of the PCR laboratory, the capabilities of medical professionals have expanded. Logistics were developed, and the VGCP began conducting research for other city polyclinics. 200 tests per day – such capacity at thewas enough at the initial stage.
Arsenal of New Equipment
The newest multidisciplinary polyclinic, equipped with the latest technology, was opened in Vitebsk in March 2019. Who knew then that this housewarming would come in handy? After all, a year later, the doctors of the VGCP were already fighting COVID-19 at full strength. And in their arsenal, both the computed tomography apparatus and the excellently equipped laboratory turned out to be very timely. Chief Physician Stanislav Titovich recalls:— Despite the good equipment, it was not easy. At that time, only a few laboratories were engaged in PCR diagnostics of the virus, and the number of patients was increasing. We collected swabs and delivered them to the laboratory of the regional Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health. And almost all medical institutions of the region also sent their analyses there. Other laboratories in the city were also loaded with research – the infectious diseases hospital, the regional maternity hospital, the skin and venereal dispensary.
Patients were nervous –their concerns can be understood, as everyone was worried about their health and wanted to get tested as soon as possible. This issue was discussed at the city executive committee level, and it was decided to purchase our own PCR laboratory with all the accompanying equipment. Fortunately, we have enough suitable premises for its location. A separate block was allocated. The purchase was financed by the city budget.
With the advent of the PCR laboratory, the capabilities of medical professionals have expanded. Logistics were developed, and the VGCP began conducting research for other city polyclinics. 200 tests per day – such capacity at thewas enough at the initial stage.
Before the examination, the sample is combined with reagents – the virus will be in plain sight.
— When the third wave ended, Vitebsk residents massively rushed to vacation abroad, — Stanislav Iosifovich acquaints me with the chronology. — Charters regularly departed from Vitebsk airport to the sea. And each traveler needed a test confirming the absence of COVID-19. Despite the fact that several new laboratories have already opened in the region (including in cities such as Orsha, Polotsk, and now Braslav), the number of research requests has increased.
Therefore, starting from May, we began to issue certificates for foreign travel. Sometimes we had to perform 150-200 tests per flight. In order not to affect the speed of diagnosis for sick patients in any way, it was time to create some reserve capacity.
The administration of the central polyclinic turned to the largest enterprises in the city for help. They responded readily. As a result, by joint effort, another set of equipment for molecular genetic analysis was purchased – a second PCR amplifier. As a result, the laboratory's capacity has doubled, and now it serves all polyclinics in the city.
…I go to the VGCС website. For paid applications, electronic registration is open – it is very convenient when you can choose the day and time for analysis yourself. If earlier it was necessary to take care of the test a couple of weeks before the trip, today it is quite realistic to sign up even for tomorrow. Well, let's get acquainted with the tactics of virus detection.
…Here it is, the super-powerful command center, where laboratory diagnostic doctors meticulously search with the help of modern computer technologydestroy the virus, mercilessly cutting off all its tricks to hide. Amplifiers function silently. Each of them contains 96 samples. On the monitor, rapidly changing colored graphs are incomprehensible to an amateur. Zhanna Anatolyevna shows a printout of the results of the previous batch: in the column of coded patients, there are many red stripes – this means the virus has been detected.
Reserve Capacity
It is no secret that with each new wave of coronavirus, we hope that it will be the last. Alas… But people have learned to live in a pandemic. And to rest too.— When the third wave ended, Vitebsk residents massively rushed to vacation abroad, — Stanislav Iosifovich acquaints me with the chronology. — Charters regularly departed from Vitebsk airport to the sea. And each traveler needed a test confirming the absence of COVID-19. Despite the fact that several new laboratories have already opened in the region (including in cities such as Orsha, Polotsk, and now Braslav), the number of research requests has increased.
Therefore, starting from May, we began to issue certificates for foreign travel. Sometimes we had to perform 150-200 tests per flight. In order not to affect the speed of diagnosis for sick patients in any way, it was time to create some reserve capacity.
The administration of the central polyclinic turned to the largest enterprises in the city for help. They responded readily. As a result, by joint effort, another set of equipment for molecular genetic analysis was purchased – a second PCR amplifier. As a result, the laboratory's capacity has doubled, and now it serves all polyclinics in the city.
…I go to the VGCС website. For paid applications, electronic registration is open – it is very convenient when you can choose the day and time for analysis yourself. If earlier it was necessary to take care of the test a couple of weeks before the trip, today it is quite realistic to sign up even for tomorrow. Well, let's get acquainted with the tactics of virus detection.
Command Center
Zhanna Maskina, Head of the Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory, is categorical: I am forbidden to enter the so-called "dirty zone" where swab samples are processed and RNA is isolated. But I am allowed to enter the "clean zone" where PCR amplifiers are used. True, in appropriate attire.…Here it is, the super-powerful command center, where laboratory diagnostic doctors meticulously search with the help of modern computer technologydestroy the virus, mercilessly cutting off all its tricks to hide. Amplifiers function silently. Each of them contains 96 samples. On the monitor, rapidly changing colored graphs are incomprehensible to an amateur. Zhanna Anatolyevna shows a printout of the results of the previous batch: in the column of coded patients, there are many red stripes – this means the virus has been detected.
Red lines mean a virus has been detected.
— This is how we view the research results of people referred by general practitioners, — explains the head of the laboratory. — That is, they had corresponding symptoms. That's why the detection rate is so high. Doctors indicate in the referrals: prolonged subfebrile temperature, pneumonia, loss of smell... So a "plus" is already a confirmation of the clinical picture. As for future tourists, detections are infrequent. But behind each of them is the prevention of unnecessary financial losses for the person. Fortunately, travel agencies insure against forced cancellations of trips. After all, even if a person has no symptoms yet, the course of the disease is unpredictable. To be abroad in such a condition is very risky...
I look at one of the graphs — a straight line quickly shoots upwards. I am commented:
— Apparently, the person fell ill very recently — they have the maximum concentration of infection. And here the viral load is clearly decreasing: the process is moving towards recovery...
Only a top-class specialist can correctly read these graphs and diagrams. There are many such specialists here at the VGCPh laboratory: five laboratory diagnostic physicians and about a dozen paramedic laboratory technicians work here. Daily, depending on the workload, they conduct 400-700 tests. They work six to seven days a week. If necessary, capacities can be increased.
— Unfortunately, there are still many skeptics, — says Stanislav Iosifovich. — You know how most of them act? They rush to get vaccinated with their whole family only when a relative, friend, or acquaintance falls seriously ill with a coronavirus infection. This should not be done, precious time is lost.
Fortunately, many understand this. Now we vaccinate 800-1000 people daily. We are talking about primary patients. We offer them both Russian and Chinese vaccines. The pace of vaccinationThe incidence of immunization is increasing. And this is good. It has been noted that the virus actively "seeks out" individuals who have no protection at all: they have not been sick before and have not been vaccinated yet. So, those who care about their health need to draw conclusions quickly...
The chief physician does not hide the fact that a new outbreak of the disease has been registered in recent weeks. The fourth wave has reached Vitebsk. Appropriate measures have been taken: the number of mobile COVID brigades has been doubled. Over fifty senior medical university students have already been involved in work at polyclinics. This year, about 50 young specialists and more than 30 interns have joined these institutions.
"Thanks to the already established methods of fighting the virus, the situation is stable and predictable, there is no emergency," notes Stanislav Tityevich. "Patients are also behaving more calmly. Along with thermometers, devices for measuring blood saturation have appeared in many home medicine cabinets. A clear system for working with patients undergoing treatment at home has been established. By the way, we now leave about twice as many patients with pneumonia at home for treatment than we send to hospitals."
However, a balanced decision is made in each specific case, based on the assessment of the patient's condition and their living conditions. But a promptly made diagnosis is the cornerstone. Therefore, strengthening laboratory capacities is a requirement of the times. We have become even stronger in the fight against the virus.
— This is how we view the research results of people referred by general practitioners, — explains the head of the laboratory. — That is, they had corresponding symptoms. That's why the detection rate is so high. Doctors indicate in the referrals: prolonged subfebrile temperature, pneumonia, loss of smell... So a "plus" is already a confirmation of the clinical picture. As for future tourists, detections are infrequent. But behind each of them is the prevention of unnecessary financial losses for the person. Fortunately, travel agencies insure against forced cancellations of trips. After all, even if a person has no symptoms yet, the course of the disease is unpredictable. To be abroad in such a condition is very risky...
I look at one of the graphs — a straight line quickly shoots upwards. I am commented:
— Apparently, the person fell ill very recently — they have the maximum concentration of infection. And here the viral load is clearly decreasing: the process is moving towards recovery...
Only a top-class specialist can correctly read these graphs and diagrams. There are many such specialists here at the VGCPh laboratory: five laboratory diagnostic physicians and about a dozen paramedic laboratory technicians work here. Daily, depending on the workload, they conduct 400-700 tests. They work six to seven days a week. If necessary, capacities can be increased.
"Don't listen to the skeptics!"
As of today, every fifth adult in Vitebsk has been vaccinated against COVID-19. But **the chief physician of the city's central polyclinic, Stanislav Titych**, states that this is not enough to create herd immunity.— Unfortunately, there are still many skeptics, — says Stanislav Iosifovich. — You know how most of them act? They rush to get vaccinated with their whole family only when a relative, friend, or acquaintance falls seriously ill with a coronavirus infection. This should not be done, precious time is lost.
Fortunately, many understand this. Now we vaccinate 800-1000 people daily. We are talking about primary patients. We offer them both Russian and Chinese vaccines. The pace of vaccinationThe incidence of immunization is increasing. And this is good. It has been noted that the virus actively "seeks out" individuals who have no protection at all: they have not been sick before and have not been vaccinated yet. So, those who care about their health need to draw conclusions quickly...
The chief physician does not hide the fact that a new outbreak of the disease has been registered in recent weeks. The fourth wave has reached Vitebsk. Appropriate measures have been taken: the number of mobile COVID brigades has been doubled. Over fifty senior medical university students have already been involved in work at polyclinics. This year, about 50 young specialists and more than 30 interns have joined these institutions.
"Thanks to the already established methods of fighting the virus, the situation is stable and predictable, there is no emergency," notes Stanislav Tityevich. "Patients are also behaving more calmly. Along with thermometers, devices for measuring blood saturation have appeared in many home medicine cabinets. A clear system for working with patients undergoing treatment at home has been established. By the way, we now leave about twice as many patients with pneumonia at home for treatment than we send to hospitals."
However, a balanced decision is made in each specific case, based on the assessment of the patient's condition and their living conditions. But a promptly made diagnosis is the cornerstone. Therefore, strengthening laboratory capacities is a requirement of the times. We have become even stronger in the fight against the virus.