Field evaluation of an inspection information system for polymerase chain reaction inspection

Abstract

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has revealed that only a small number of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests can be performed per day in Japan. This research aims to develop a flexible; and continuous testing system capable of detecting new mutant strains and unknown viruses that may emerge in the future. We analyzed the existing problems related to the information system overseeing PCR testing and prototyped an inspection information system. In this study, we integrated the inspection information system into the inspection process and conducted a comprehensive evaluation. The results indicate that the system is effective in reducing manual work. Further research is needed to refine the inspection information system and make it more user-friendly, based on the feedback and evaluation results.