Tubing COVID Specimens?

[NurseMelly11]

At the beginning of the COVID pandemic, our hospital policy stated we could not transport any specimens for a PUI or confirmed COVID patient through the tube system. Then, restrictions changed to that we could transport blood and urine for these patients through the tube system, but not the actual COVID specimens. Now, over a year later, several hospitals in our state are allowing transport of the double bagged specimens through the tube system. We have asked to change our hospital policy, but continue to be told no by lab, but not given a reason as to why. We would like to stop having to take specimens ourselves to the lab because it is delaying pt time in the ED, it is decreasing patient satisfaction, and it takes an employee off of the unit, which at times is not realistic. I’ve tried finding latest EBP on this topic, but pretty much everything I have found is from early 2020. There is nothing current. Would any of you be willing to share with me what your hospital policies are and if you know why they are the way they are? Thank you. 

[JKL33]

7 hours ago, NurseMelly11 said:

I’ve tried finding latest EBP on this topic, but pretty much everything I have found is from early 2020.

Hm. The CDC does have a document/slideshow available online from August in which this topic was worked through in SBAR format:

https://www.CDC.gov/csels/dls/preparedlabs/documents/covid-19-response-calls/08_03_2020_slides.pdf  -- scroll down until page/slide indicator says 21.

But, realistically, you are not going to tell your lab director anything. That's been my observation. They know about the above-linked information and likely any other commentary, viewpoints  and guidelines you could suggest from reasonable sources. They are working in a situation where the rules or best practices haven't always been well-defined, just like the rest of us. Unless entities like the CDC, CAP, CLIA etc agree that there is no problem transporting viral specimens through pneumatic tube system and publicize good, updated/recent information saying so, some places will be very conservative about it.

I would not waste emotional energy on this. If your employer wants people trucking to the lab on foot then accept that this is a value they have decided is important and let them worry about the ramifications of it.

[NurseMelly11]

1 hour ago, JKL33 said:

Hm. The CDC does have a document/slideshow available online from August in which this topic was worked through in SBAR format:

https://www.CDC.gov/csels/dls/preparedlabs/documents/covid-19-response-calls/08_03_2020_slides.pdf  -- scroll down until page/slide indicator says 21.

But, realistically, you are not going to tell your lab director anything. That's been my observation. They know about the above-linked information and likely any other commentary, viewpoints  and guidelines you could suggest from reasonable sources. They are working in a situation where the rules or best practices haven't always been well-defined, just like the rest of us. Unless entities like the CDC, CAP, CLIA etc agree that there is no problem transporting viral specimens through pneumatic tube system and publicize good, updated/recent information saying so, some places will be very conservative about it.

I would not waste emotional energy on this. If your employer wants people trucking to the lab on foot then accept that this is a value they have decided is important and let them worry about the ramifications of it.

Thank you so much for that. I just wanted something more recent than March of last year. Our shared governance team actually assigned me to research this and find any current EBP pertaining to the topic, so that’s why I was looking. I wasn’t trying to go against admin or the lab. It’s actually now my responsibility to report back that there is not any new EBP and that this is still the best practice.  It was assigned to me, so I thought I’d reach out on here to see if anyone else knew of something I didn’t. I appreciate your feedback. 

[gere7404, BSN, RN]

We still have to hand carry swabs to lab, luckily it’s not that far from the ED