A COVID-19 test centre at the MUG’s Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine

14.04.2020

Photo by Paweł Sudara

New COVID-19 test centre was established at the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine of the Medical University of Gdańsk. Following the governmental guidelines on maintaining social distancing during the epidemic the COVID-19 test centre operates as a drive-thru facility, which means that a person will remain in the car during the examination. The Centre was opened with the support of the Pomeranian Voivode Dariusz Drelich, who allocated PLN 35,000 for the purpose, the Provincial Sanitary and Epidemiological Station in Gdańsk, the University Clinical Centre for Maritime and Tropical Medicine as well as Medical University of Gdańsk. – Setting up the COVID-19 test point at the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine at the Medical University of Gdańsk aims to maximize the effects in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus outbreak. By bringing forth such solutions, we relieve the admission rooms and reduce the risk of infecting patients who report to the hospital with other diseases – emphasised Pomeranian Voivode Dariusz Drelich. – Recently, we have also taken up other initiatives in the region – we have launched two new mobile smear teams (we already had nine) and admission rooms in front of 23 hospitals in Pomerania.

Photo by Paweł Sudara

Only those patients who have previously been registered and qualified will undergo the examination. Qualification takes place by the call centre (+48 58 349 18 88), every day. Once the person is officially qualified and registered, the examination is free of charge.

– Everyone who has been experiencing the following disturbing symptoms: increased body temperature (above 38°C), loss of smell and taste, coughing and you think you may be infected with coronavirus should contact the Centre – explains Maciej Grzybek, Ph.D. from the MUG’s Department of Tropical Parasitology. – Based on conversation and several questions the operator decides whether a person shall qualify for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus test or not.

Once a person is qualified for the examination he or she should arrive to the Centre by car. Patients who choose a different form of transport (bicycle, public transport, walking, etc.) will not be admitted. The Centre is located at the car park in front of the main entrance to the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia (Powstania Styczniowego 9B).

– One should remember of taking take his/hers ID card with a personal identity number (PESEL) for the purpose of showing it to the medical staff – adds Maciej Grzybek Ph.D. – After that the temperature will be measured and a nasopharyngeal swab will be taken. It is a safe and standard medical procedure.

Photo by Paweł Sudara

Photo by Paweł Sudara

Collected and secured material will be forwarded to the Provincial Sanitary and Epidemiological Station in Gdańsk for molecular RT-PCR test which will determine the presence of viral genetic material in the sample and attest the infection as caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

After the test, the patient returns home, where he or she awaits for the result. It will be delivered via phone by the employee of the State Sanitary Inspector.

The initiative received a very positive evaluation and support of the Pomeranian Voivodeship Sanitary Inspector.

– This solution will allow for the acceleration of the efficient collection of material for molecular research and reduce the risk of infection with Sars-CoV-2 virus among other patients of the University Maritime and Tropical Medicine Centre. It will also significantly relieve the routine work of the University Maritime and Tropical Medicine Centre admission room – explains Tomasz Augustyniak, Pomeranian State Provincial Sanitary Inspector.

The Pomeranian Voivodship Sanitary Inspector and the University Maritime and Tropical Medicine Centre are responsible for the patients’ qualification procedure as well as for conducting molecular tests in the COVID-19 laboratories of the Pomeranian Voivodeship.