Assessment of Knowledge among the Paramedical Staff on the Collection and Processing of Blood Samples for IL-6 Assay in COVID-19 Patients

Priya K Dhas; Reena Rajan; P P Sheela Joice

Priya K Dhas Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Vinayaka Mission’s Kirupananda Variyar Medical College & Hospitals,Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation (Deemed to be University), Salem,TamilNadu, India
Reena Rajan Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Vinayaka Mission’s Kirupananda Variyar Medical College & Hospitals,Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation (Deemed to be University), Salem, TamilNadu, India
P P Sheela Joice Professor, Department of Physiology, Vinayaka Mission’s Kirupananda Variyar Medical College & Hospitals, Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation (Deemed to be University), Salem, TamilNadu, India

Keywords: Questionnaire, IL-6 Assay, Paramedical Staff, COVID-19 Patients

Abstract

Background: While laboratory investigations play a major role in guiding therapeutics in COVID-19, the knowledge of the COVID-19 warriors about the collection and processing of laboratory samples has been
challenging. It has been noticed that a delay in performing interleukin-6 (IL-6) assay leads to a wrong interpretation of the results.
Aim: To assess the knowledge of paramedical staff on the collection and processing of blood samples from COVID-19 patients with a special reference to IL-6.
Materials and Methods: A questionnaire involving qualitative and quantitative data was prepared to assess the knowledge of the paramedical staff who were involved in the collection, transport and processing of blood samples. The survey was conducted among 200 paramedical staff and the participants were interviewed through online Google Forms. Cronbach’s alpha was used to test the internal consistency of the questionnaire. Frequencies and percentages of items were calculated to assess the knowledge of participants about the collection, transport and processing of biochemical parameters.
Results: More than 30% of the paramedical staff involved in the collection, transport and processing of biochemical samples lacked awareness that a delay in transport and processing would cause false
results.
Conclusion: The study participants were given awareness regarding the collection, transport and processing procedures while collecting csamples for IL-6 to avoid false interpretation of the results.

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