Advisory group to the Ministry of Health in New Zealand
The New Zealand Microbiology Network (NZMN) is an advisory group to the Ministry of Health in New Zealand. It was established in 2014 through a contract from the Ministry of Health to the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR).
Purpose.
The group's stated purpose is "to enable a timely and consistent response to issues relating to laboratory testing and to ensure regular communication between microbiology laboratories in New Zealand".
Membership.
The membership of the group is around 30 people, most of whom are clinical microbiologists. They include:
In addition, there is provision for two standing observers, the Chair of the Public Health Laboratory Network and a nominated representative of the Australian Department of Health. The Chair of the group is Anja Werno, Chief of Pathology and Medical Director of Microbiology at Canterbury Health Laboratories.
Position statements.
The Microbiology Network has published a number of position statements:
Advice on testing for SARS-CoV-2.
In April 2020, the NZMN advised against routine testing for SARS-CoV-2 of people being transferred into aged care. The NZMN's advice was questioned in the Rosewood rest home outbreak, and a cluster of outbreaks that affected six care homes nationally.
In April 2020 NZMN advised that testing for sexually transmitted diseases be restricted because the tests used some of the same components as were needed for COVID-19 testing. Some parts of the tests were subject to international supply chain issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Testing for sexually transmitted diseases was reported as still being "sidelined" in August of that year.
In September 2021, advice from the NZMN was cited as a "key input" to the Ministry of Health's decision-making about saliva testing for SARS-CoV-2. Six months previously the NZMN had recommended the nasopharyngeal swab as the "gold standard" for testing. In September, in light of research showing that many symptomatic New Zealanders were failing to get tested for the virus, they reversed the earlier decision to not recommend saliva testing for COVID-19.
The Ministry of Health also receives advice on Covid-19 testing from the CT TAG advisory group (COVID-19 Testing Technical Advisory Group).
References.
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