In Case You Missed It: WOHC 2020 - Testing for SARS-CoV-2: Understanding Analytic and Clinical Cross-Over

Dr. Kirstine Oh is an anatomic- and clinical pathology board-certified pathologist with a subspecialization in hematopathology. After completing residency, Dr. Oh practiced as a general anatomic and hematopathologist for 10 years before becoming the medical director of a lab in a roughly 550 bed hospital with a level II trauma center, OB-GYN center, oncology center and busy emergency department. 

Providence Regional Medical Center Everett cared for the first COVID-19 patient in the United States, and Kirstine and the lab team were highly involved. After a brief lull following the patient’s discharge, the site became one of the first areas in the country to experience a surge in COVID-19 cases in March 2020. The 53 hospital system spanning Alaska, California, Montana, Oregon, Texas and Washington states has grappled with how to address the laboratory testing for SARS-CoV-2, both in the inpatient and outpatient setting.