Publication, Document

Test Trace Protect: summary of testing strategy

Explains the testing priorities of Test Trace Protect.

First published: 13 August 2020

Last updated: 13 August 2020

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This is a summary of testing priorities for the next phase as we look ahead to Autumn.

This table covers testing beyond:

Symptomatic RT-PCR (virus detection) testing, which is already in widespread use across Wales.
Asymptomatic RT-PCT (virus detection) testing used in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak to support contact tracing and control the spread.

Category	Sub-category	Nature of testing	Usage	Purpose
Managing outbreaks or increased transmission spikes	Closed Setting Vulnerable Groups Local Communities	Asymptomatic RT-PCR (virus detection) testing	When required	To minimise transmission across the wider community. To safeguard business continuity.

Category	Sub-category	Nature of testing	Usage	Purpose
Hospital patients	Emergency admissions Elective admissions (including day surgery) Outpatients / diagnostic interventions Discharge	Asymptomatic RT-PCR (virus detection) testing	On-going	To build in safeguards through testing to minimise the risk for patients. To diagnose COVID-19 to help with treatment and care.
NHS staff	Healthcare workers	Asymptomatic RT-PCR (virus detection) testing	Where additional available NHS testing capacity allows	To protect and maintain a safe working environment for our NHS staff For infection prevention and control measures. To safeguard business continuity.
		Antibody testing	On-going	For health surveillance and to understand the spread of the disease within healthcare settings
Health and care staff (in the community)	Primary care (incl. GPs, Dental Surgeries and Pharmacies).	Asymptomatic RT-PCR (virus detection) testing	Pilot amongst an agreed cluster	To utilise findings in the initial phase to consider a future testing approach.
		Antibody testing	Ongoing	For health surveillance and to understand the spread of the disease within healthcare settings in the community.

Category	Sub-category	Nature of testing	Usage	Purpose
Care homes	Care home staff	Asymptomatic RT-PCR (virus detection) testing	Fortnightly cycle (to be reviewed in October)	Based on the data a review of the policy of weekly testing of care home staff data was undertaken on 10 August, and as prevalence remains low, testing has been reduced to every 2 weeks. If there are higher prevalence rates in some areas of Wales then the frequency of the testing will be increased. Target outbreak hot spot areas. This could include deploying mobile testing units to test all residents in care homes where an outbreak occurs to support contact tracing and the spread of the disease.
		Antibody testing	To be determined	Develop the use of antibody tests with care homes to support surveillance activity and to further understand the transmission of infection in care home settings.
Education settings	All education workers (including support staff working in these settings)	Antibody testing	Extending current sampling programme	Build on the current testing programme to include a wider sample once schools re-open in September. The purpose of this sampling programme is to support surveillance activity and to understand the prevalence of the virus in education settings.

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