The RAPID COVID Study - Application of Point-of-Care COVID-19 Testing to Optimize Patient Care, Resource Allocation and Safety for Frontline Staff

This study will determine the role of point-of-care testing (POC) as a tool to improve care of COVID-19 patients and conserve resources. A major obstacle facing hospitals during the COVID-19 outbreak is the inability to quickly diagnose who is infected with the virus. Delayed test results could mean that patients, who ultimately test negative, are treated for days utilising resources that could be better deployed elsewhere. An immediate diagnosis of COVID-19 among carriers could provide more expedient treatment, prevent clinical deterioration and help health care workers avoid unnecessary risk of exposure. In collaboration with Spartan Biosciences, which has developed a novel point-of-care 45- minute bedside COVID-19 test, and a team of specialists from six centres in Ontario, this research will evaluate the efficacy of POC testing to determine when, how and to who it can be applied.