Page 47 - COVID-19 Inpatient Training Resources
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Asymptomatic testing
There are several groups who may require testing even if they don’t have symptoms consistent
with COVID-19. These patients are not treated as PUIs and do not need additional precautions
unless there is another indication. The swabs and specimens collected for COVID-19 testing for
asymptomatic patients still need to be double bagged, labeled and hand delivered to
microbiology. All other specimens from asymptomatic patients do not. They can be sent as per
routine procedures. That means, as per current guidance, patients in isolation for COVID-19
require ALL specimens to be double bagged and hand delivered, but those NOT in isolation for
COVID-19 only need their specimens for COVID testing specifically double bagged and hand
delivered.
Hospital Admissions and Discharges
Patients admitted from long term care, retirement homes, or a congregate living setting should
be tested on admission. Patients transferred from another hospital where they were admitted
should also be tested, however other transfers from hospitals do not necessarily need to be
tested (i.e. a direct transfer from the ED). Patients discharged to long term care, retirement
homes and hospices should be tested within 24 hours prior to discharge as well. The reason for
testing codes are as follows:
