TY - JOUR
T1 - Scale-Up of COVID-19 Testing Services in NYC, 2020–2021
T2 - Lessons Learned to Maximize Reach, Equity and Timeliness
AU - Thorpe, Lorna E.
AU - Conderino, Sarah
AU - Bendik, Stefanie
AU - Berry, Carolyn
AU - Islam, Nadia
AU - Massar, Rachel
AU - Chau, Michelle
AU - Larson, Rita
AU - Paul, Margaret M.
AU - Hong, Chuan
AU - Fair, Andrew
AU - Titus, Andrea R.
AU - Bershteyn, Anna
AU - Wallach, Andrew
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The New York Academy of Medicine 2024.
PY - 2024/10
Y1 - 2024/10
N2 - During infectious disease epidemics, accurate diagnostic testing is key to rapidly identify and treat cases, and mitigate transmission. When a novel pathogen is involved, building testing capacity and scaling testing services at the local level can present major challenges to healthcare systems, public health agencies, and laboratories. This mixed methods study examined lessons learned from the scale-up of SARS-CoV-2 testing services in New York City (NYC), as a core part of NYC’s Test & Trace program. Using quantitative and geospatial analyses, the authors assessed program success at maximizing reach, equity, and timeliness of SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing services across NYC neighborhoods. Qualitative analysis of key informant interviews elucidated key decisions, facilitators, and barriers involved in the scale-up of SARS-CoV-2 testing services. A major early facilitator was the ability to establish working relationships with private sector vendors and contractors to rapidly procure and manufacture necessary supplies locally. NYC residents were, on average, less than 25 min away from free SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing services by public transport, and services were successfully directed to most neighborhoods with the highest transmission rates, with only one notable exception. A key feature was to direct mobile testing vans and rapid antigen testing services to areas based on real-time neighborhood transmission data. Municipal leaders should prioritize fortifying supply chains, establish cross-sectoral partnerships to support and extend testing services, plan for continuous testing and validation of assays, ensure open communication feedback loops with CBO partners, and maintain infrastructure to support mobile services during infectious disease emergencies.
AB - During infectious disease epidemics, accurate diagnostic testing is key to rapidly identify and treat cases, and mitigate transmission. When a novel pathogen is involved, building testing capacity and scaling testing services at the local level can present major challenges to healthcare systems, public health agencies, and laboratories. This mixed methods study examined lessons learned from the scale-up of SARS-CoV-2 testing services in New York City (NYC), as a core part of NYC’s Test & Trace program. Using quantitative and geospatial analyses, the authors assessed program success at maximizing reach, equity, and timeliness of SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing services across NYC neighborhoods. Qualitative analysis of key informant interviews elucidated key decisions, facilitators, and barriers involved in the scale-up of SARS-CoV-2 testing services. A major early facilitator was the ability to establish working relationships with private sector vendors and contractors to rapidly procure and manufacture necessary supplies locally. NYC residents were, on average, less than 25 min away from free SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing services by public transport, and services were successfully directed to most neighborhoods with the highest transmission rates, with only one notable exception. A key feature was to direct mobile testing vans and rapid antigen testing services to areas based on real-time neighborhood transmission data. Municipal leaders should prioritize fortifying supply chains, establish cross-sectoral partnerships to support and extend testing services, plan for continuous testing and validation of assays, ensure open communication feedback loops with CBO partners, and maintain infrastructure to support mobile services during infectious disease emergencies.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Equity
KW - New York City
KW - Reach
KW - Testing services
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85204688827&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85204688827&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11524-024-00918-z
DO - 10.1007/s11524-024-00918-z
M3 - Article
C2 - 39316309
AN - SCOPUS:85204688827
SN - 1099-3460
VL - 101
SP - 913
EP - 922
JO - Journal of Urban Health
JF - Journal of Urban Health
IS - 5
ER -