HJAR Sep/Oct 2020

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  SEP / OCT 2020 39 Jose` R. Romero, MD Secretary Arkansas Department of Health samples can be run at the same time, and it only takes a minimum of five hours to perform. COVID-19 testing has been an undertaking of massive proportions for the PHL, with everyone in the building helping in some respect. The tests are performed in the molecular lab, which previously had five analysts to run the new SMA tests, as well as all gonorrhea and chlamydia tests for the state. Newborn screening analysts have stepped in to run the SMA tests so the molecular lab analysts can focus on COVID-19 testing. Seven additional people were also hired to run COVID-19 tests. Pre-pandemic, the PHL operated from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Because of the pandemic, the PHL readjusted its scheduling to run COVID-19 tests 24/7. Other employees assist with data entry and specimen receiving as assigned, or as time allows with their normal job duties. About 43 people are involved full-time in the PHL’s COVID-19 response. The ADH reassigned some nurses and environmental scientists to assist. Analysts with the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory also helped for several months. The entire second floor has been set up for data entry, while nurses took over the third-floor conference room to contact doctors and nurses with results. The area set up for specimen receiving has also been expanded to meet the demand. The main challenge has been keeping up with constant changes, while continuing to push forward with testing. There have been positive developments in addition to the challenges of COVID-19. Employees have learned a lot about themselves as laboratorians, as well as what they can do when they are really pushed to do it. Their various backgrounds and experiences have been invaluable as they adjusted to meet the needs of the pandemic. For example, the molecular lab was already working 24/7 to analyze COVID-19 tests using other instruments when the PCR testing instrument arrived. The supervisor of the chemical terrorism lab, who has a background in molecular biology, and experience in validating instruments, stepped in to help validate the new instrument so the molecular lab analysts could continue working without interruption. A validation, if everything goes smoothly, can take up to two weeks to complete. He worked steadily to complete it in five days. Moving forward, the PHL continues to offer all of its services. Three additional newborn screening tests were in the process of being added before the pandemic. A serology, or antibody test that shows previous infection with COVID-19 is in the works. ADH officials ordered equipment in July, and hope to start this testing in November. The PHL is also preparing to move its accreditation a step further. In August, the food microbiology lab was audited in a bid to become an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) accredited lab. If this status is achieved, every lab in the PHLwill have oversight from some sort of accreditation body, whether ISO, the U.S. Food and DrugAdministration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or the College of American Pathologists. This means the PHL is held to the highest standards, and has a lot of requirements that it must meet to maintain the quality and expectations of its accreditations. These accreditations show that the results coming out of these labs can be trusted. The PHL is here as a resource to help all Arkansans. More information may be found at https://www.healthy.arkansas . gov/programs-services/topics/arkansas- public-health-laboratory or by calling (501) 661-2220. n Dr. José R. Romero was named secretary of the Arkansas Department of Health inAugust 2020. He is amember of the governor’s cabinet,and provides senior scientific and executive leadership for the agency. Dr. Romero is currently the chairman of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP),which is providing guidance nationally on the prioritization and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. Romero previously served as chief medical officer at theADH,and was appointed as the interimSecretary of Health by Governor Asa Hutchinson in May 2020. He was director of the section of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and the Arkansas Children’s Hospital from 2008–2020.He is also a professor of pediatrics in the department of pediatrics at UAMS, and has board certification in pediatrics and pediatric infectious diseases. Dr.Romero’s research interests include themolecular pathogenesis, epidemiology, and diagnosis of enteroviral infections, clinical and therapeutic aspects of enterovirus,herpes virus,cytomegalovirus, pediatric tuberculosis,and pneumococcal infections.