COVID-19 Surveillance Program

Background:

COVID-19 workplace clusters, particularly in large industry factories, have been frequently reported over the last year, despite preventative measures and workplace guidelines being published1, 2. On-site employee screening using RT-PCR and RTK-Antigen testing have been adopted by organizations, but is not conducted on a repeated basis due to the costs involved from mass testing as well as resources required for coordination. Therefore, unless repeat tests and close monitoring take place, the risk of COVID-19 transmission and exposure among employees still remains. Lengthy quarantine periods and decontamination of premises reduces productivity levels which ultimately leads to financial losses suffered by an organization.

 

COVID-19 Surveillance Program

Our Pathology Partner, one of the first laboratories accredited by the Ministry of Health to conduct the ‘gold standard’ RT-PCR test for COVID-19, has taken the initiative to develop a COVID-19 Surveillance Program which is a cost-competitive and effective way to routinely screen employees to reduce the risk of economic downtime. Details are as follows:

  • Minimum duration of 6 months.
  • Employees are grouped (e.g. department / work shifts) and a test schedule is provided.
  • Employees in each group are required to provide an initial blood sample to test for COVID-19 antibody levels. Baseline antibody levels provide visibility to which employees have been previously exposed to COVID-19 and would enable employee classification into higher and lower risk groups. Blood antibody levels are encouraged to be repeated midway and at the end of the surveillance program.
  • Employees in each group are required to provide a small sample of saliva (2 mls) in a specimen container once a week throughout the entire duration of the program. These samples will be picked up by our courier services and transported to our laboratory for RT-PCR testing. Alternatively, arrangements can be made whereby employees can provide samples at the nearest Gribbles branch.
  • A list of employee results will be electronically delivered to the Company after each weekly session within 24 hours upon sample arrival at the laboratory.
  • Employees who are found to be positive from the saliva test will go through the standard process of notifying the relevant Health authorities.

 

Benefits to Company

  • Ability to identify low / high risk groups which will help in work shift planning purposes
  • Early detection of positive cases which will help facilitate rapid and effective quarantine measures for affected groups only, thereby minimizing economic downtime
  • Testing is done in a reliable manner, as RT-PCR methodology is used3
  • Minimum resources required for saliva testing (also less discomfort experienced)
  • Significant cost-savings compared to traditional on-site screening (Appendix 1)

 

Internal Findings

  • Our Pathology Partner had begun conducting the Surveillance Program beginning 18th January 2021 on a total of 799 employees across 43 sites nationwide.
  • To date, a total of 9 asymptomatic employees were detected positive via the Surveillance Program.
  • All 9 employees were also found to be positive in the confirmatory RT-PCR test which demonstrates 100% correlation between saliva and conventional method of RT-PCR testing.

 

References:

 Appendix 1 – Pricing

Pax  (Per Site)

Saliva rt PCR / Pax (RM)

Total Antibody / Pax (RM)

< 100

100.00

50.00

100-199

90.00

45.00

200-499

80.00

40.00

>500

70.00

35.00

 

Note:

  1. Any positive result will incur additional surcharge of RM 100.00 per pax for retesting purposes (for PCR only)
  2. Results electronically delivered within 24 hours upon sample arrival at laboratory
  3. Additional 10% discount off invoice if Company agrees to commit to 12 months surveillance period