SARS-CoV-2 was first known to infect people in 2019 and worldwide vaccination programmes are now in place.
Diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 is critical for prompt diagnosis and the clinical and public health management of new infections. PCR tests are the gold standard for detecting viral SARS-CoV-2 RNA. It detects viral RNA using flourogenic primers and thermal cycling steps giving fast and accurate results.
SARS-Cov-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, is a highly infectious disease targeting the respiratory tract. It is an enveloped β-coronavirus coated with spike (S) glycoproteins, envelope (E) and membrane (M) proteins. The virus is known to mutate over time resulting in several variants of concern (VOC).
Transmission of the virus is via respiratory droplets/aerosolization. The incubation period of the virus is 2-5 days but up to 14 days. The period of infectivity is typically 2 days prior to symptoms with a peak at approximately day 5 days but this varies from case to case.
Clinical manifestations vary greatly, ranging from asymptomatic or mild infection to severe disease. Most common symptoms include cough, fever, shortness of breath, headache, anosmia, ageusia or dysgeusia.
Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) placed in up to 3 mL of viral transport media, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) or sputum (collected in a sterile universal container).
The test for SARS-CoV-2 RNA offered by Enfer Medical is carried out using RT-PCR assays to test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs. The tests used are CE-IVD certified.
The test for SARS-CoV-2 RNA is also available as part of an extended respiratory panel (listed below). This test is CE-IVD certified.
| Viruses | Bacteria |
| Adenovirus | Bordetella parapertussis |
| Coronavirus (229E, HKU1, NL63, OC43) | Bordetella pertussis |
| SARS-CoV-2 | Chlamydia pneumoniae |
| Human Metapneumovirus | Mycoplasma pneumoniae |
| Human Rhinovirus/Enterovirus | |
| Influenza A (H1, H3, H1-2009) | |
| Influenza B | |
| Parainfluenza Virus (PIV-1, PIV-2, PIV-3, PIV-4) | |
| Respiratory Syncytial Virus |
For clients using the Enfer Medical Client Portal, the Enfer Medical Patient Request Form (PRF) will be generated when you have completed your “Test Request” within the portal linked below.
Please note that samples suspected of containing high risk pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis should be clearly identified on the form and packed separately from other samples.
Results are available next working day.
This assay is available seven days a week.
The packaging/preparation of samples for delivery to the laboratory are required to be in adherence to all national regulations for the safe transport of biological materials. HSE guidance can be reviewed HERE.
There are specific packaging instructions and labelling requirements requiring triple packaging including:
Further information on the packaging/preparation of samples for delivery to the laboratory is contained within the Enfer Medical Laboratory User Manual which clients are provided with.
Samples must be tested within 7 days of collection if stored at room temperature.
In addition to the packaging of samples, the transport/delivery of clinical samples to the laboratory is required to be in adherence to all national regulations for the safe transport of biological materials. Enfer Medical provides a fully compliant logistics service, aligned with clients’ testing requirements.
Prompt transport of specimens:
To ensure prompt testing of samples and release of results within the published test turnaround times, samples should arrive to the laboratory by 18:00. Test turnaround time is measured from receipt of the sample at the laboratory until the time the authorised results are reported to users.
In rare cases specimens may not be suitable for testing on arrival to the laboratory. In that case the sample will be rejected at the receipt stage and the service user will be notified immediately and an explanation as to why the sample could not be processed will be provided. Reasons why samples cannot be processed include but are not limited to:
Please note this is a notifiable disease under the Infectious Diseases (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 53 of 2020) February 2020. Please refer to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre for the Case Definitions for Notifiable Diseases:
Following receipt at the Laboratory, results should be available on the next working day and will be reported to the referring clinician via the Enfer Medical Client Portal or in a format agreed with clients.
Established clients can login to the portal using the link above.
