How to Design a Community-Based Testing Pilot to Support a Wide Scale Roll Out of Decentralized Diagnostics

It is widely believed that we will now live with SARS-CoV-2 for some time rather than eradicate it quickly. If this is to be the picture across the healthcare landscape, the last place that infection-free patients will want to be treated is in a hospital setting where large numbers of staff work and patients, some with COVID-19, will be receiving their care.

Initial discussions with community leads suggest support for the provision of a range of decentralized diagnostic tools in the community, accessed by GP referral or drop-in. Such a model would support a move toward personalized healthcare whereby the patient receives investigations indicated by their symptoms, clinical and family history.

Clinical and managerial leadership must be established to ensure an effective pilot is conducted with regular oversight at the right intervals.