Background: The current pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 due to SARS-CoV-2 virus, affected the health care systems, health services and economy globally. Moreover, it significantly affected the health of the population worldwide. Mortality and morbidity rates are still increasing. According to WHO, as of September 2021 there have been 224180869 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 4621173 deaths. USA, India, and Brazil are the three world's worst-hit countries. In Greece the mortality rate is at 3%. Methods: Study population included 565 patients, who were admitted at the Emergency Department and the Pathology Department of Naval and Veterans Hospital, Athens, Greece, during a period of 3,5 months. Patients’ demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, travel history, symptoms, aetiology of admission and history of contact with confirmed cases were recorded. All patients included to the study were positive for SARS-CoV-2 and characterized as COVID-19 patients. All statistical analyses were conducted using MINITAB 17. Results: Statistically significant differences in the results of albumin (marginal p-value), urea, creatinine, AST, ALT, and LDH between hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients were detected. Also, we observed statistically significant differences in the results of albumin, urea, creatinine, and ALT, between male and female patients. Moreover, patient age was statistically significant between male and female patients. The Logistic regression model of hospitalization show that statistically significant variables are ALT, LDH, age and gender. Conclusions: The rapid spreading of the new COVID-19 pandemic due to SARS-CoV-2 increased the need for the measurement of biochemical tests and the evaluation of their correlation with patient hospitalization. Biochemical monitoring of COVID-19 patients is critical for assessing disease severity and progression as well as monitoring therapeutic intervention. Several common biochemical tests have been implicated in COVID-19 infection progression, providing important prognostic information. In the present study we evaluated the test results of albumin, urea, creatinine, AST, ALT, LDH and total bilirubin in patients with COVID-19 infection.

Background: The current pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus affected the health care systems, health services and economy globally. It also affected the health of the population worldwide, with high mortality and morbidity rates. The present study aimed to study the patients that were admitted to a tertiary care hospital and to investigate the potential correlation between hospitalization and RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 results with demographic characteristics and clinical characteristics. Moreover, it aimed to examine a mathematical formula that might describe the correlation of the aforementioned parameters. Methods: The study population included 1244 patients admitted to the Nikea General Hospital "Agios Panteleimon", Piraeus, Greece. Patient age, gender, underlying diseases, travel history, symptoms, etiology for hospital admission and contact with confirmed cases were recorded. Potential correlation of hospitalization and RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 results with the aforementioned characteristics were identified by chi-square test of independence and logistic regression analysis. Results: We observed significant correlation of hospitalization with fever, cough, dyspnea, pneumonia, travel history and etiology for hospital admission. We observed significant correlation of RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 results with rapid antigen test result, hospitalization etiology for hospital admission and contact with confirmed COVI-19 case. Conclusions: According to the logistic regression model, RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 result, fever, dyspnea, pneumonia, and underlying disease are the most important predictors for hospitalization in the population under study. Contact with confirmed COVID-19 case is the most important predictor for RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 result.

Clinical laboratories produce test results that support the diagnosis, prognosis, and patient treatment. Test results must be relevant, accurate, and reliable for patient care. International bibliographic data estimate that approximately 62.0% of the errors made in clinical laboratories are due to errors during the pre-analytical stage. This chapter presents a failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) to analyze potential failure risks within the pre-analytical phase and classify them according to severity and likelihood. FMEA allows molecular laboratories to lower costs and drive better outcomes through high-quality nucleic acid extraction, sensitive detection, and accurate quantification. RT-PCR technology continues to be the gold standard for the clinical detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in individuals suspected of COVID-19. It is essential to use highly sensitive assays to detect active infections and reduce the likelihood of false-negative results.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus affected health care systems and public health worldwide dramatically. Several measures were applied in order to prevent or stop the rapid transmission of the virus and the subsequent disease, such as lockdowns, physical distancing, strictly hygiene, along with travel restrictions. Global population after vaccination programs against COVID-19 were carried out, is facing a “tripledemic” situation threat, with the co-existance of SARS-CoV-2, influenza and RSV. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the co-existence of SARS-CoV-2, influenza and RSV, as well as the correlation with gender, age, Cts and vaccination doses. Methods: A total of 302 patients were included in the study. All patients were admitted to the emergency department of General Hospital Nikea, Piraeus with common upper respiratory tract symptoms and were suspected for COVID-19 disease, between March to July 2022. Patients’ age, gender, vaccination doses, and results from RT-PCR detection for SARS-CoV-2, RSV and Influenza viruses were recorded. Results: 139 were male and 163 female, aged between 18-94 years. Out of the patients included in the study, 206 were vaccinated and 96 were not vaccinated. Among vaccinated patients 97 were male and 109 were female. A percentage of 3.3% had received one vaccination dose, 16.9% two and 47.7% three. Moreover, 88 patients presented infection symptoms; 81 patients had a positive rapid test result. We detected 15 cases of co-infection of SaRS-CoV-2 and RSV and only one case, of co-infection of SaRS-CoV-2 with influenza virus. Conclusions: The majority of patients admitted to the emergency department of GHNP with common upper respiratory tract clinical manifestations were female. A significantly lower rate of co-infection with SARS-CoV-2 and RSV was detected in patients having received 2 vaccination doses, compared to patients having received 3 out of 3 vaccination doses or up to 1 vaccination dose. Ct values for SARS-CoV-2 and RSV pathogens were between 10-17. Co-infection with SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza was detected in only 1 patient.

The use of quality indicators (QIs) and risk assessment are valuable tools for maintaining the quality of laboratory tests. Both are requirements of ISO 15189: 2012 and are usually based on standard statistical and empirical data. In this chapter, the authors focus on evaluating clinical laboratory quality indicators in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal is to pose and discuss, based on the authors' experience, the quality evaluation and risk assessment through the collection, study, and analysis of quality indicators covering the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of the laboratory testing process. QIs were evaluated using the Six Sigma method. Moreover, FMEA risk analysis was performed, and the degree of risk priority was assessed using the Pareto method. The results show that in the analytical phase, the laboratory's performance is satisfactory, while the pre-and post-analytical phases need further preventive/corrective actions.