Ann Clin Microbiol 2025;28(1):5. A survey on laboratory capacity, testing practices, and management during COVID-19 pandemic response in Korea: a cross-sectional survey study
| Category | No. of responses (%) |
|---|---|
| Microbiological tests performed | |
| Serologic test for HIV | 95 (75.4) |
| Serologic test for hepatitis | 90 (71.4) |
| Bacterial smear and culture | 84 (66.7) |
| Acid-fast bacillus smear | 76 (60.3) |
| Microbial molecular test (excluding hepatitis or HIV) | 65 (51.6) |
| Serologic test for infectious disease (excluding hepatitis) | 65 (51.6) |
| Parasitic testing | 60 (47.6) |
| Fungal smear and culture | 54 (42.9) |
| Acid-fast bacillus culture | 53 (42.1) |
| Molecular test for hepatitis | 49 (38.9) |
| Microbial rapid antigen test (using immunochromatography, excluding hepatitis or HIV) | 44 (34.9) |
| Microbial antigen test (using immunoassay, excluding hepatitis or HIV) | 30 (23.8) |
| Molecular test for HIV | 16 (12.7) |
| Facility status | |
| Biosafety level 2 laboratory (Separate space, biological hazard sign, autoclave, biosafety cabinet, etc.) | 83 (65.9) |
| Negative pressure nucleic acid extraction room | 51 (40.5) |
| Molecular testing laboratory separated into three areas (nucleic acid extraction, reagent preparation, nucleic acid amplification) | 50 (39.7) |
| Negative pressure tuberculosis testing room | 25 (19.8) |
| Tuberculosis testing room with double barrier anteroom | 11 (8.7) |
| None of the above | 6 (4.8) |
| Total | 126 (100.0) |
Abbreviation: HIV, human immunodeficiency virus.