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Cepheid

Cepheid

Editorial Team

6m Read

November 12, 2026

RESPIRATORY HEALTH

Publication

New Study Finds Fewer ED Transfers with Point-of-Care PCR Testing

PUBLICATION AT A GLANCE

Title: Respiratory Outbreak Mitigation With Point-of-Care Testing in Long-Term Care: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Authors: Kandel C, Oriotis D, Candon HL, et al.

Journal: JAMA Internal Medicine

Reference and Link: JAMA Intern Med. 2026;186(9):1114–1121. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2026.2644

Publication Date: 1 September 2026

Study Type: Randomized clinical trial

Clinical Area: Respiratory

 

PUBLICATION INSIGHTS

A randomized clinical trial, entitled imProving Respiratory Outbreak Mitigation Through Point-of-Care Testing in Long-Term Care (PROMPT-LTC), found that on-site respiratory multiplex PCR testing was associated with fewer emergency department transfers and earlier initiation of antiviral therapy for influenza in long-term care facilities.

Respiratory virus outbreaks remain one of the most significant challenges facing long-term care facilities. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to complications from influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2 infection, which can lead to emergency department visits, hospitalization, and increased healthcare utilization.

A new study¹ published in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that bringing molecular testing closer to the point of care may help improve resident management during respiratory virus season. Researchers found that long-term care facilities using on-site point-of-care respiratory multiplex PCR testing experienced fewer transfers to acute care settings for residents with suspected or confirmed respiratory viral infections.

 

Study Snapshot

  • Evaluated whether on-site point-of-care respiratory multiplex PCR testing could improve management of viral respiratory infections in long-term care facilities
  • Conducted as the PROMPT-LTC cluster randomized clinical trial across 20 long-term care homes in Toronto, Canada
  • Included 3,963 beds during the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season
  • Compared facilities using on-site respiratory multiplex PCR testing with facilities using standard testing pathways
  • Assessed the impact of on-site testing on outbreak outcomes, emergency department transfers, mortality, testing practices, and time to influenza treatment

 

Results Highlights

  • Facilities using point-of-care testing performed more respiratory virus tests and had a higher ratio of confirmed to suspected cases, indicating improved case detection.
  • Residents at intervention facilities received influenza antiviral therapy approximately 2.5 days sooner than those at control facilities
  • Residents with COVID-19 at intervention facilities were more likely to receive antiviral treatment than those at control facilities, 62% versus 56%.
  • Emergency department transfers for residents with suspected or confirmed respiratory viral infections were lower in facilities using on-site testing
  • Researchers estimated that seasonal implementation of on-site respiratory multiplex PCR testing could prevent approximately four emergency department transfers per 100 beds during winter and spring respiratory virus seasons

 

What This Means for Long-Term Care

The PROMPT-LTC study highlights an important evolution in how the value of diagnostics is assessed in long-term care settings.

Although outbreak size and frequency were not significantly reduced, intervention facilities conducted more than twice as much testing and achieved better case detection, suggesting that more infections and lower-level outbreaks were identified than with standard testing pathways. Point-of-care testing was associated with earlier initiation of antiviral therapy for residents with influenza, improved diagnostic certainty, and fewer emergency department transfers. These findings suggest that the value of diagnostic testing extends beyond pathogen detection alone and may influence clinical decision-making, healthcare utilization, and resident management.

For residents, earlier diagnosis and appropriate management may help reduce avoidable transfers. The study authors estimated that fewer ED transfers associated with seasonal point-of-care testing could support healthcare capacity during respiratory virus surges.

Earlier identification of influenza, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2 may also support more targeted infection prevention measures and timely treatment decisions.

As healthcare systems continue to manage seasonal respiratory virus surges and increasing demands on acute care services, strategies that provide faster access to diagnostic information and support timely initiation of influenza antiviral therapy may play an important role during seasonal respiratory virus activity. For long-term care leaders, the study provides evidence that on-site point-of-care respiratory multiplex PCR testing was associated with fewer ED transfers in the evaluated long-term care facilities. 

READ THE PUBLICATION

 

Disclaimer: The content presented on this page is intended for informational and educational purposes. While it is available globally, it may reflect clinical practices or healthcare system considerations specific to a particular region.

IVD. In vitro diagnostic medical device. Not available in all countries.

Reference

1. Kandel C, Oriotis D, Candon HL, et al. Respiratory Outbreak Mitigation With Point-of-Care Testing in Long-Term Care: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2026;186(9):1114–1121. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2026.2644

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