Development and operation of the defence COVID-19 lab as a SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic screening capability for UK military personnel.

BACKGROUND: In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Defence Pathology combined to form the Defence Clinical Lab (DCL), an accredited (ISO/IEC 17025:2017) high-throughput SARS-CoV-2 PCR screening capability for military personnel. LABORATORY STRUCTURE AND RESOURCE: The DCL was modular in organisation, with laboratory modules and supporting functions combining to provide the accredited SARS-CoV-2 (envelope (E)-gene) PCR assay. The DCL was resourced by Dstl scientists and military clinicians and biomedical scientists. LABORATORY RESULTS: Over 12 months of operation, the DCL was open on 289 days and tested over 72 000 samples. Six hundred military SARS-CoV-2-positive results were reported with a median E-gene quantitation cycle (Cq) value of 30.44. The lowest Cq value for a positive result observed was 11.20. Only 64 samples (0.09%) were voided due to assay inhibition after processing started. CONCLUSIONS: Through a sustained effort and despite various operational issues, the collaboration between Dstl scientific expertise and Defence Pathology clinical expertise provided the UK military with an accredited high-throughput SARS-CoV-2 PCR test capability at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The DCL helped facilitate military training and operational deployments contributing to the maintenance of UK military capability. In offering a bespoke capability, including features such as testing samples in unit batches and oversight by military consultant microbiologists, the DCL provided additional benefits to the UK Ministry of Defence that were potentially not available from other SARS-CoV-2 PCR laboratories. The links between Dstl and Defence Pathology have also been strengthened, benefitting future research activities and operational responses.

A survey of nurses views on the latest health service 'reforms'.

A small survey was carried out to measure nurses views on the latest changes planned by the Government for the health service. Data were collected by questionnaire from a small convenience sample of nurses from throughout New Zealand. The majority of respondents indicated that they oppose the changes overall. All key aspects of the latest reforms are opposed by a clear majority. However, the survey had a number of limitations; in particular a very low return rate.

A survey of nurses attitudes to AIDS related issues.

A small survey was undertaken to examine nurses attitudes to a wide range of matters relating to the management of patients and persons with AIDS, and the prevention of HIV infection. Strong support is shown for current AIDS related public health measures, particularly in the area of health education. Unnecessary measures like mandatory screening have scant support, and there is even less support for more extreme measures. Most nurses believe AIDS patients should be treated no differently than other disease sufferers. And while there is an awareness and concern about occupational transmission, most nurses approach or would approach caring for AIDS patients no differently than other patients. While, the study has some limitations, it nonetheless provides an interesting outline of nurses attitudes to a range of important issues.

A method of studying the effects of reduced alveolar support on the sensibility to axial force on the incisor teeth in humans.

A method has been developed for measuring the threshold level of sensibility to axial pressures applied to the incisor teeth in man. Eight subjects were investigated, four with support reduced by up to 60% as a result of chronic periodontal disease. Reduced alveolar support appears to have no significant effect on the threshold of perception. All subjects had a lower threshold for the removal of force than for its application. Infiltration of local anaesthetic labially over the test tooth resulted in failure to feel forces previously recognised, thus confirming the role of the periodontal receptors in force perception.

Viscoelastic properties of the periodontal ligament and mucous membrane.

Load deformation studies were carried out on the maxillary arches of three adult Macaca irus monkeys using tooth-borne and tissue-borne plates. By means of an electronically controlled dynamometer, forces with different loading rates, creep, and simulated chewing loads were applied to the plates. The displacement was measured electronically relative to posterior teeth using a linear variable displacement transducer. The six main viscoelastic features noted by other workers for individual teeth under load have been confirmed for the test plates and can be attributed to the connective tissues in the periodontium and in the mucosa. The magnitude of displacement of the tissue-borne plate, however, was appreciably greater than for the tooth-borne plate, and the recovery was far slower. Reducing the part of the plate in contact with mucosa produced greater intrusion, and reducing the number of teeth supporting the tooth-borne plate produced greater displacement.