The first 15 epidemiological weeks of 2024 already add up to a total of 68,839 confirmed cases of dengue in Espírito Santo throughout the State. The Central Public Health Laboratory of the State of Espírito Santo (Lacen/ES), which is a national reference in laboratory surveillance, plays a fundamental role in carrying out the diagnosis and, consequently, in combating the disease, with the verification of 48,141 tests of dengue, since epidemiological weeks (SE) 01 (31/12/2023) and SE 15 (13/04/2024).
The request to perform these tests is made according to the progression of patients’ symptoms. As with other arboviruses, such as chikungunya and zika, the diagnostic tests for dengue fever carried out at Lacen/ES are molecular biology and serology, in addition to viral isolation. During this period, 20,599 Molecular Biology tests (RT-qPCR), 27,307 serology tests and 235 Viral isolation tests were carried out, used for epidemiological surveillance.
The director of Lacen/ES, Rodrigo Rodrigues, highlights that each detection method presents differences in the time and method of collection, aiming to guarantee the sensitivity and specificity of the tests performed.
“In the molecular biology method (RT-qPCR), the detection of the virus is carried out in the acute phase of the disease, that is, the collection of the biological sample must be carried out up to the 5th day after the onset of symptoms, and the virus is still detected. circulating. On the other hand, the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies is carried out in the seroconversion phase and the collection of the biological sample must be carried out in patients after the 6th day of the onset of symptoms, detecting the immune response against the pathogen. This differentiation and adequate sample collection are extremely important”, explained Rodrigues.
Furthermore, according to the director, most of the inputs used to diagnose dengue and other arboviruses are acquired, mainly, by the State Government. “The three methodologies for testing arboviruses are used: serology test (IgM and IgG), molecular biology test (RT-qPCR) and viral isolation, an important test for epidemiological surveillance. At this moment, the State is supplied with all types of inputs to carry out tests for dengue and other arboviruses”, he highlighted.
Quality and recognition
The Central Public Health Laboratory of the State of Espírito Santo, Lacen/ES, is considered a Gold Standard, in accordance with the regulations recommended by the Ministry of Health (MS), as it has the capacity to meet demands at the state level and guarantee the release of results within 48 hours after receiving the sample. Due to this level, Lacen/ES distinguishes itself from other Brazilian states by guaranteeing the quality of results in a timely manner for surveillance measures and patient management, in addition to standing out in the speed of responses in its laboratory diagnoses.
Furthermore, Lacen/ES also has the status of a regional reference laboratory, that is, it operates in conjunction with the General Coordination of the Health Laboratory Network (CGLAB) and the Health Surveillance Secretariat of the Ministry of Health, in monitoring the normalization and standardization of techniques. The regional reference for Lacen/ES is for the National Network of Public Health Laboratories for tuberculosis (TB) and Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM). It is the public or private health laboratory with the largest number of tests accredited by the National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (Inmetro) by Standard NBR ISO/IEC 17025:2017.
Director Rodrigo Rodrigues also explained that, since the peak periods of the Covid-19 pandemic, Lacen/ES has structured itself and continues to evolve continuously, with the aim of meeting great demands, with its technological park being the great legacy of pandemic, in addition to management investment, which brought an important return to installed analytical capacity.
“Lacen-ES has been structuring itself both in terms of technology park and in hiring qualified employees to meet all major demands. Recently, with the increase in cases of seasonal diseases, such as dengue, and with the constant improvement of techniques, the laboratory received another automated nucleic acid extractor, making a total of five extractors, and implemented new generation monitoring for arboviruses dengue, chikungunya, Zika, oropouche and mayaro”, said Rodrigues.
Like the first four months of 2024, when Lacen/ES carried out molecular tests in an amount 152% greater than that recorded in the entire year 2023. With the increase in operational capacity, currently, the sector responsible for RT- qPCR offers the ability to perform laboratory diagnosis for more than 37 conditions of public health relevance.
Covid-19 numbers are highlights: more than a million tests already carried out
Another piece of data that demonstrates the technical capacity of Lacen/ES, over the last few years, is the number of tests carried out to detect Covid-19. Using molecular biology methodology, using RT-qPCR, considered the gold standard test, the Laboratory has already carried out, from February 2020 to the beginning of April 2024, 1,001,331 tests to detect the SARS-CoV- 2, Covid-19.
“This milestone reflects the dedication of the entire Lacen/ES team to fighting the pandemic and also the virus, in addition to the commitment to public health in Espírito Santo and an important return on the investments we received by the State Government, in addition to the contribution of a expertise technique to the service provided”, highlighted the director of Lacen/ES, Rodrigo Rodrigues.
Press Information:
Sesa Communications Advisory
Syria Luppi / Luciana Almeida / Danielly Campos / Thaísa Côrtes / Ana Cláudia dos Santos
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Tags: LacenES carried thousand tests detect dengue fifteen weeks
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