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).[1]

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".[1]

Membership

The membership of the group is around 30 people, most of whom are clinical microbiologists.[2] 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.[1] The Chair of the group is Anja Werno, Chief of Pathology and Medical Director of Microbiology at Canterbury Health Laboratories.[3][4]

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.[5][7] The NZMN's advice was questioned in the Rosewood rest home outbreak, and a cluster of outbreaks that affected six care homes nationally.[8]

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.[9] Some parts of the tests were subject to international supply chain issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] Testing for sexually transmitted diseases was reported as still being "sidelined" in August of that year.[10]

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.[11]

The Ministry of Health also receives advice on Covid-19 testing from the CT TAG advisory group (COVID-19 Testing Technical Advisory Group).[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "About the NZMN | NZMN". www.nzmn.org.nz. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  2. ^ "The New Zealand Microbiology Network". Health Quality & Safety Commission. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Dr Anja Werno, Chief Pathology and Laboratories". Conferenz. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Canterbury Health Labs - Management Team - Canterbury District Health Board". www.chl.co.nz. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Position statements | NZMN". 29 January 2021. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Position statements | NZMN". 11 October 2021. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Coronavirus: Christchurch woman stuck in heartbreaking 'predicament' given Covid-19 test to allow her to leave hospital". Stuff. 23 April 2020. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Coronavirus: How Covid-19 unfolded at Rosewood". Stuff. 15 April 2020. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Sexually transmitted infection testing restricted as testing kits needed for Covid-19". Stuff. 2 April 2020. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Coronavirus: Gonorrhoea, chlamydia tests sidelined as labs pump out Covid-19 tests". Stuff. 23 August 2020. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Covid-19: U-turn on saliva testing as fears grow around nasal swab hesitancy". Stuff. 24 September 2021. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  12. ^ "COVID-19 Testing Technical Advisory Group (CT TAG)". Ministry of Health NZ. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
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