Enabling laboratory readiness and preparedness for the evaluation of suspected viral hemorrhagic fevers: development of a laboratory toolkit.

PURPOSE: Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs), such as Ebola virus disease, Marburg virus disease, and Lassa fever, are associated with significant morbidity and mortality and the potential for person-to-person transmission. While most individuals in whom VHF is suspected will ultimately be diagnosed with a non-VHF illness, such patients may present to any United States healthcare facility (HCF) for initial evaluation; therefore, all HCFs must be prepared to evaluate and initiate care for suspect VHF patients, especially if they are acutely ill. Included within this evaluation is the ability to perform basic routine laboratory testing before VHF-specific diagnostic test results are available, as well as rapid malaria testing to assess for a common, dangerous "VHF mimic."

OBJECTIVE

To improve laboratory preparedness and readiness in the initial care of suspect VHF patients who may present to acute care hospitals.

DESIGN

Plan-Do-Study-Act quality improvement model.

SETTING

Frontline healthcare facilities and their clinical laboratories.

METHODS

We describe the development of a laboratory testing toolkit for a suspect VHF patient that can assist frontline HCFs in providing basic laboratory testing required for the care of these patients.

RESULTS

The toolkit provides guidance on infection prevention and control, waste management, occupational health, laboratory test collection, processing, and resulting, in the context of suspect VHF patient evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS

The toolkit is designed to be readily adapted by any frontline HCF in the US. With the guidance provided, facilities will be able to support safer initial evaluation of VHF suspects and ensure high-quality patient care.