Not For Profit operator Whiddon has been trialling Rapid PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing at Easton Park, a 488-bed residential aged care campus employing over 700 employees, in Glenfield, 36km southwest of Sydney’s CBD – now the findings are in.
The trial, which began on 19 November last year and continued through to January 2022, was widened to its Home Care workforce. It involved a rapid PCR unit, capable of delivering results within 90 minutes, which was developed by UK firm DnaNudge and distributed by Pantonic Health Solutions.
Whiddon CEO Chris Mamarelis, said the trial demonstrated the benefit of having an on-site rapid PCR test which provided comparatively reliable results within 90 minutes. The trial showed:
- Of the 116 people tested using the DnaNudge, only 1 of those results differed to the lab-based PCR test. This represents an accuracy level during the trial period of 99.1% against the pathology results
- The test was easy to administer, with the only minor challenge identified relating to establishing connectivity with Wi-Fi
- The early results enabled early intervention to enact Outbreak Management, potentially halting further transmission of the virus
He said the trial findings demonstrated the potential significant impact that a rapid PCR unit can have on maximising resident care and safety in a residential aged care setting, whilst minimising disruption on the critical health workforce.
Whiddon’s Chris Mamarelis and Sharon Fletcher with the rapid PCR unit.
"Much as we have seen the Commonwealth subsidise Rapid Antigen Testing in aged care, rapid PCR units should also be subsidised across all aged care homes in Australia, with priority given to regional centres,” said Chris, whose trial of rapid antigen testing was rolled out across the sector by the Commonwealth.
“The use of this technology will essentially reduce the burden on commercial pathology labs which receive Commonwealth funding for current COVID-19 PCR testing. Through a government subsidised model, this will likely result in a cash neutral reallocation of funding from the Federal budget to the Aged Care Sector (i.e. supporting direct PCR testing), utilising funds that will have normally been directed to pathology labs, thus minimising the burden to taxpayers. In addition, it will also provide pathology labs with greater capacity to support the broader community.”
Whiddon supports more than 1,800 residents across 20 locations in NSW and QLD.
