key: cord-280630-2g7ygxys
authors: Koo, Bo Kyung; Bang, Ji Hwan; Kim, Sun-Young; Kim, Eun Jin; Park, Sang-Won
title: Glove-Wall System for Respiratory Specimen Collection and COVID-19 Mass Screening
date: 2020-04-14
journal: Infect Chemother
DOI: 10.3947/ic.2020.52.2.219
sha: 
doc_id: 280630
cord_uid: 2g7ygxys

nan

In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Korea has devised an effective strategy for massive diagnostic testing combined with isolation [1] [2] [3] . Specimen collection for COVID-19 requires heavy personal protective equipment (PPE) which is exhausting for the examiner and difficult during mass screening. Therefore, we implemented the 'Glove-Wall system' at a screening clinic since 10th February 2020 first reported ever in the literature.

The Glove-Wall is composed of a translucent plate window with a pair of sleeved gloves (Fig. 1A) . A physician determines the patient eligibility according to the COVID-19 criteria. Respiratory specimen is collected from the suspected patient in the Glove-Wall area where the examiner and examinee are completely separated (Fig. 1B) . The examiner needs minimum PPE and does not need to change PPE between patients; therefore, the wait time is minimal. Specimen containers dropped into a collection box are sent to a laboratory as a batch after each session.

To secure the safety of the examinees side and prevent cross-contamination from the surrounding environment, the examiner disinfects the fixed gloves between patients using alcohol and quaternary ammonium wipes approved for coronavirus (Fig. 1C) [4] . Each examinee is instructed to perform hand hygiene with alcohol products before and after exit. After each session, the entire room is cleaned and disinfected with diluted sodium hypochlorite [4] . The fixed gloves are regularly replaced. Single use gloves are worn over the fixed sleeved thin gloves for every procedure (Fig. 1D) .

To prevent airborne transmission from previous candidates and allow rapid air change, the examinee's space is designed to be small (2.5 m x 1.3 m x 2.5 m) with a volume of 8.1 m 3 and a 1 m x 2 m sized door leading to open air. For effective ventilation and filtration, a portable negative pressure machine is installed with an airflow rate at 530 m 3 /h and 65 air changes per hour that removes 99% of airborne contaminants in 5 minutes [5, 6] . The ventilation safety is secured during the 5-minute interval between patients. 

Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases COVID-19 working group. Early dynamics of transmission and control of COVID-19: a mathematical modelling study

Zhong NS; China Medical Treatment Expert Group for Covid-19. Clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 in China

Korean Society of Infectious Diseases; Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Report on the epidemiological features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the Republic of Korea from

Laboratory biosafety guidance related to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

Guidelines for environmental infection control in health-care facilities

Guidelines for preventing the transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in health-care settings

We greatly appreciate all members of COVID-19 Boramae Task Force Team. Specially thanks to Eun Young Heo, Hui Jai Lee, Eunmi Jo, Su Hui Ko, Koung Jin Lee, Suk Hee Jung, Namhee Kim, Mi Seon Han, Doeg Kyeom Kim, and Jae Hyup Lee.